Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Pigmentary Glaucoma

Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effect of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in pigmentary glaucoma. Methods: The authors retrospectively analyzed results of ALT in 32 eyes of 32 patients with medically uncontrolled pigmentary glaucoma. Data were longitudinally adjusted to normalize the disparity in time of follow-up and evaluated by life-table analysis. Results: Mean age (± standard deviation) was 45.1 ± 13.1 years (range, 23-72 years) (males, 46.3 ± 13.7 years; females, 42.9 ± 12.2 years). Mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) was 27.8 ± 5.3 mmHg. Mean follow-up time was 33.0 ± 5.0 months (range, 1 week [immediate failures] to 96 months). Three eyes were lost to follow-up at 3 months. Eleven eyes required trabeculectomy between 1 week (2 eyes) and 37 months after laser treatment. Life-table analysis indicated a cumulative success for all eyes of 80% at 1 year, 62% at 2 years, and 45% at 6 years. Mean 101? was significantly reduced ( P A 0.001; paired Student's t test) for male and female eyes at all intervals calculated. Age was a significant factor in determining time to failure. Conclusion: Argon laser trabeculoplasty is effective in pigmentary glaucoma. Younger patients had a greater chance of success than older patients at all intervals. This became highly significant ( P A 0.001) after 3 years.