Clinical analysis on the efficacy and safety of pneumatic trabeculoplasty

Abstract

Objective To analyse the efficacy and safety of pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Methods There were 80 eyes of 80 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension in our study. The anterior chamber angle, 24 hours intraocular pressure (IOP), the thickness of macular ganglion complex and Humphrey visual field examinations after PNT were observed. Results The opening angles of anterior chamber angle were (28.78±1.24)degrees before PNT, and (30.60±1.82)degrees, (29.77±1.27)degrees, (29.19±1.23)degrees at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months after PNT, and the differences were all statistically significant(P=0.00, P=0.00, P=0.00). The differences of IOP between before and after PNT at the out-office time and office time were statistically significant(P=0.00, P=0.00). The average thicknesses of macular area, upper and lower retinal ganglional complex were detected and the differences were all not statistically significant(P=0.30, P=0.95, P=0.28). The mean defect and pattern standard deviation of visual field at 3 months after PNT were compared with that before the surgery. The differences were not statistically significant(P=0.57, P=0.66). Conclusion PNT is an effective, safe and simple method in the treatment of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Key words: Trabeculoplasty, pneumatic; Ultrasound biomicroscopy; IOP measurement, 24 hours; Optical coherence tomography; Ganglion cell complex; Visual field