Ahmet Hamdi Bilge

Intraocular Pressure Changes After Nd:YAG Laser Application

Intraocular pressure (IOP) changes after Nd:YAG laser applications were studied to determine the effect of prophylactic antiglaucoma therapy, and the causes of high IOPs. In this prospective study IOPs were measured at 1, 2, 3, 5, 24, 48 hours and 1 week after Nd:YAG treatment in our out-patient clinic. In three patient groups, 181 eyes (111 capsulotomy and 70 iridotomy) matched for age and ocular status (aphakia, pseudophakia and iridotomies) were studied. The group which received no medication showed significant IOP elevations within the first 3 hours, and in all groups the aphakics had higher IOP levels than the pseudophakics. The IOP changes were lowest in the iridotomy cases. Variables such as pulse energy, number of pulses, and total energy used during the laser applications, or the differences in the pupillary diameter could not explain the increased IOP values recorded. In this study, antiglaucoma therapy, either with timolol or acetazolomide were found to be effective. Extensive peripheral anterior synechiae and released dense lens material were observed in the cases with IOPs over 20 mmHg.