Effect of low dose laser cycloplasty on deepening anterior chamber in chronic angle-closure glaucoma

To describe the outcome of using low-dose laser cycloplasty (LCP) in chronic angle-closure glaucoma (CACG).

A retrospective case series. Medical charts of CACG patients who underwent LCP in the Eye Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University were reviewed. The main outcomes included intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of glaucoma medication, anterior segment parameters and surgery-related complications.

A total of 7 eyes of 7 CACG patients (age 38.9±11.0y) underwent LCP with a mean follow-up of 27.1±13.7mo (range 16–48mo). Following LCP, mean IOP and glaucoma medications decreased from 26.1±6.1 mm Hg with 3.1±1.1 glaucoma medications pre-treatment to 14.9±3.1 mm Hg (P=0.027) with 0.4±1.1 glaucoma medications (P=0.001) at final follow-up. The anterior chamber depth (ACD), angle opening distance₅₀₀ and trabecular-iris angle increased from 1.65±0.33 mm, 0.05 mm (range 0–0.30 mm) and 5.1° (range, 0–31.97°) at baseline to 1.98±0.43 mm (P=0.073), 0.53 mm (range 0.42–0.91 mm, P=0.015), 45.9° (range, 40.2°–59.4°, (P=0.015) in the long-term follow-up, respectively. The deepening of ACD and reopening of anterior chamber angle (ACA) was observed in 6 eyes (85.7%).

LCP is a promising treatment option for patients with CACG via reducing IOP and glaucoma medication without serious complications. In addition, LCP can bring a significant deepening in ACD and reopening of ACA.