Glaucoma Laser Surgery

Glaucoma laser surgery has changed in several respects since the last edition of this book. The replacement of argon laser trabeculoplasty in most practice settings with newer technologies, notably selective laser trabeculoplasty but also multipulse laser trabeculoplasty, has continued unabated. Further research has been performed on the role of endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation with or without cataract surgery. And finally, micropulse cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) has become available over the past few years, with a number of reports claiming utility of this treatment modality earlier in disease management than was common with diode CPC. The earlier use paradigm owes largely to the presumed tissue specificity of this laser, as compared to neodymium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd: YAG) or diode CPC, which tend to be destructive to surrounding ocular tissues. Although excimer laser trabeculotomy was discussed in the last edition of this text, it remains an uncommonly used technique.