The outcome of ciliary body ablation with diode laser contact transscleral cyclophotocoagulation in 6 months follow-up Original research study

Abstract

The aim of the study is to analyse the postoperative results of continuous wave, transscleral cyclophotocoagulations (CW-TSCPC) in 6 months follow-up for patients with refractory glaucoma.

Material and methods: We retrospectively reviewed 58 records of patients who underwent the transscleral cyclophotocoagulation because of refractory glaucoma at the Department of Ophthalmology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland, between 2016 and 2022. All patients underwent ophthalmological examination at baseline and during follow-up visits including best-corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure measurement (IOP), slit-lamp examination, visual field and optical coherence tomography examination of the retinal nerve fiber layer (OCT RNFL). Follow-up time was 6 months.

Results: We analyzed a group of 58 patients (28 women and 30 men, average age of 62). Majority of patients (41 eyes, 70.69%) had secondary open angle glaucoma. There were no serious complications of the CW-TSCPC procedure. We achieved IOP normalization (IOP below 22 mmHg) in 81.03% of eyes in 1 month follow-up, in 81.08% after 2 months, and in 72.41% after 6 months. Mean IOP reduction was 53.47%, 47.71%, and 47.65% from baseline at 1, 2, and 6 months, respectively. The number of medications taken by patients was lowered of 74.14%, 70.27% and 68.97% after 1, 2 and 6 months respectively. 17 eyes (29.31%) required additional surgical interventions within 6 months.

Conclusions: CW-TSCPC is an effective and safe procedure. It allows lowering of IOP and reduction of drugs number administrated by patients with various types of glaucoma during 6 months follow-up. The procedure is technically easy and with well-controlled postoperative complications.