Neodymium-YAG Laser Iridotomy in the Treatment and Prevention of Angle Closure Glaucoma

• The records of 271 consecutive patients (373 eyes) who underwent neodymium-YAG laser iridotomy at our institution over a period of 12 months were reviewed. The majority of eyes (60.5%) were treated for chronic primary angle closure glaucoma, 23.3% had prophylactic iridotomy for occludable angles, 7.8% were treated for acute angle closure glaucoma, 3.2% required iridotomy for the relief of iris bombe secondary to anterior uveitis, and the rest (5.2%) were treated for miscellaneous causes of secondary angle closure. Laser iridotomy, with or without medical treatment, obviated further surgical treatment in most categories of eyes. Visual acuity remained unchanged or improved in the great majority (92%) of cases over the period of followup (range, two to 12 months; median, four months). Visual deterioration in 8% of eyes was attributed to the usual causes, such as normal cataract progression, but none was believed to be related to the laser treatment. This article discusses the advantages of the neodymium-YAG laser (over argon) for performing iridotomies.