Formation of Peripheral Anterior Synechiae Following Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty

Abstract

• One hundred eighteen eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent argon laser trabeculoplasty. Laser burns were placed in the anterior trabecular meshwork (ATM) in 58 eyes and directly over Schlemm's canal in the posterior trabecular meshwork (PTM) in 60 eyes. Twenty-nine eyes received 100 burns and 89 eyes received 50 burns distributed equally over 360° Peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS) developed in seven (12%) of the eyes having anterior trabeculoplasty and in 26 (43%) of those having posterior trabeculoplasty. There was no correlation between the development of PAS and sex, width of the anterior chamber angle, or the number of laser burns. Eyes having anterior trabeculoplasty had a final decrease in intraocular pressure equal to those having posterior trabeculoplasties. Our results strongly suggest that trabeculoplasty is a safer but no less effective procedure when the laser burns are placed on the ATM rather than the PTM.