Long-term outcomes of argon laser photocoagulation in small size cyclodialysis cleft

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of Argon laser photocoagulation compared to surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft patients. METHODS: This is a retrospective study. Small-size cyclodialysis cleft patients who underwent Argon laser photocoagulation and surgical direct cyclopexy were reviewed. The mean follow-up period were 82.4 (range, 61 – 145) months and 99.9 (range, 62 – 184) months in both groups. The comparison of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraocular pressure (IOP), postoperative peak IOP and time to normalization of IOP before and after the treatment. RESULTS: The causes of all included 15 cyclodialysis cleft cases were blunt trauma. seven patients underwent Argon laser photocoagulation and eight patients underwent surgical direct cyclopexy. The mean age of included patients was not significantly different (p = 0.38). Preoperatively, the mean logMAR BCVA (standard deviation, SD) was 0.7 (0.2) and 1.1 (0.9) and mean IOP was 4.4 (2.4) mmHg and 3.0 (1.5) mmHg in Argon laser group and surgical direct cyclopexy group (p = 0.24 and p = 0.18, respectively). The extension of cyclodialysis and duration of cyclodialysis cleft were not significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.08 and p = 0.24, respectively). The mean follow-up period were 82.4 (range, 61 – 145) months and 99.9 (range, 62 – 184) months in both groups (p = 0.41). Postoperatively, the mean logMAR BCVA was 0.0 (0.1) and 0.2 (0.3) and mean IOP was 14.5 (3.1) mmHg and 16.8 (2.5) mmHg (p = 0.15 and p = 0.16, respectively). Postoperative peak IOP and time to normalization of IOP were not different between the two groups (p = 0.75 and p = 0.91, respectively). DISCUSSION: It is necessary to use invasive treatment such as cryotherapy or surgical direct cyclopexy in cyclodialysis cleft with hypotonic maculopathy. In the present study, Argon laser photocoagulation showed good prognosis in a small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours. Considering possible complications and cost of surgical direct cyclopexy, Argon laser can be more beneficial than surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical ourcome of Argon laser photocoagulation seems to be as good as surgical direct cyclopexy in small-size cyclodialysis cleft below 1.5 clock-hours.