THE IMMEDIATE IOP RESPONSE OF ND‐YAG‐LASER IRIDOTOMY AND ITS PROPHYLACTIC TREATABILITY

The response of IOP in the normotensive human eye to Neodym‐YAG‐laser iridotomy was investigated in this study. In 2 series of 10 patients, each unilateral laser iridotomy was performed with a YAG‐laser prior to cataract surgery. In one group laser iridotomy was done without pre‐treatment, in the second group laser iridotomy was preceded by treatment with 1% pilocarpine. Close follow‐up of IOP before and after surgery was carried out with the Non‐Contact‐Tonometer. Laser iridotomy caused average IOP rises of 10 mmHg, which could be identified as early as 20 min after surgery, with a maximum of response after 80 min, and a declining IOP from 100 min post‐operatively onwards. Pre‐treatment with pilocarpine eyedrops could be reduce the laser‐mediated IOP rise to less than one fourth. These results recommend a mild miotic for routine pre‐treatment for iris laser surgery in order to cope with acute pressure rise as one of the major problems in these procedures.