[Cyclocryocoagulation in treatment of neovascular glaucoma]

Abstract

Neovascular glaucoma (NVG) is a pathological condition of the eye with fast deterioration, accompanied with eyeball pain and loosing sight. The aim of the study was to examine the efficacy of cryotherapy in the treatment of NVG which is resistant to medical and surgical therapy, concerning intraocular pressure (IOT) and eyeball pain immediately after the treatment and 6 months after. In the Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Scool of Medicine, during three years 70 patients with NVG, which were resistant to medical and surgical treatment, were included in the prospective study. There were 50 males and 21 women, average age 74 +/- 6.94 (45-87). The patients were treated with transconjuctival cyclocryocoagulation, machine ERBOKRYIO AE-ERBE was used. The average value of IOT was: at admission 44.8 mmHg, 7 days after the treatment 30.7 mmHg with the tendency of falling down 30 and 90 days later, to finally 19.9 mmHg 180 days after the treatment. The IOT was significantly lower after the treatment. At admission, the average value of eyeball pain intensity was high (4.2), 7 days after the treatment it was 2.1 with the tendency of falling down to finally 1.1 180 days after the treatment. The eyeball pain intensity was significantly lower after the treatment. Cyclocryocoagulation is a method of choice in the treatment of NVG resistant to medical and surgical treatment. Cyclocryocoagulation, as a treatment of noncontrolled progressive NVG, does not have any effect on the improvement of sight in these patient.