BACKGROUND: Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation is widely accepted as the therapy of choice in severe @entity726 cases. It is especially performed after failure of other kinds of treatment. We wanted to know whether it is also suitable as a primary surgical procedure after failure of medical treatment. @entity1 AND METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the charts of @entity1 scheduled for cyclophotocoagulation as a primary surgical treatment between February 1997 and May 1998. Usually 15 burns (2000 mW, 2.5 s) were applied per treatment session. The mean age was 75.5 +/- 7.4 years (range: 63-86). The mean follow-up was 17.5 months (range: 6-32). RESULTS: Altogether 25 eyes of 20 @entity1 could be included in the study. There was a mean reduction of the intraocular pressure from 29.9 mmHg preoperatively to 17.4 mmHg postoperatively = 41.6%. In three cases (12%) repeated treatment was necessary. No severe complications such as @entity3225 or phthisis bulbi were observed. No acute postoperative elevation of intraocular pressure > or = 40 mmHg occurred. Visual acuity remained stable during the follow-up in all eyes with a preoperative measurement of 20/60. DISCUSSION: Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation is suitable as a primary surgical procedure. We mostly perform it instead of filtering procedures when the @entity1 refuses the filtering operation or when the @entity1 is not able to visit an ophthalmologist for regular aftercare.

[Diode laser cyclophotocoagulation as the primary surgical intervention in XXXX ].

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient', 'PATIENTS'] @entity3225 :: ('MESH:D009877', 'Disease') :: ['endophthalmitis'] @entity726 :: ('MESH:D005901', 'Disease') :: ['glaucoma']
@entity726 :: (MESH:D005901,Disease) :: ['glaucoma']
