Open clinical statitical study on the effects of argon laser trabeculoplasty

Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) was used in 78 patients (108 eyes) with open-angle glaucoma who had not benefitted from medical treatment. The results of ALT were evaluated immediately after treatment and after 15 days, three, six, 12, and 24 months. In this study, an intraocular pressure> 22mmHg and a reduction in the visual field of at least one isopter from that recorded one year before treatment were considered pathologic changes. A decrease in intraocular pressure of at least 20 % and an unchanged visual field one year after treatment were considered to be successful results. We detected a decrease in intraocular pressure, and therefore successful findings in regard to this parameter, in 50% of our patients after one and two years. However, this percentage fell to 29% when visual field changes were considered. Our study showed that ALT must be regarded as only a temporary alternative to surgical therapy and that, after treatment, patients must be followed with particular attention to variations in intraocular pressure and visual fields.