Posters

Endothelial changes, corneal thickness, and anterior chamber flare following Nd:YAG laser iridotomy

Poster Details

First Author: S.Khochtali TUNISIA

Co Author(s):    S. Sayadi   I. Ksiaa   M. Khairallah   S. Zaouali   B. Jelliti   M. Khairallah     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To study corneal endothelium changes, corneal thickness and anterior chamber flare following Nd: Yag laser iridotomy.

Setting:

Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia

Methods:

A prospective study including 20 patients (31 eyes) that underwent Nd: Yag laser peripheral iridotomy in a single session. All patients had a complete ophthalmological examination, a laser flare photometry and a noncontact specular microscopy at enrollment and at 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months and 6 months following the Nd: Yag iridotomy. The patients received topical dexamethasone (4 times a day) and timolol drops (2 times a day) for 7 days.

Results:

The mean energy used was 5.4 +/- 1.3 mJ. The mean total energy was 389.3+/-255.5 mJ. Intraocular pressure significantly increased at day1 (p=0.01). Anterior chamber flare significantly increased at day 1 (p=0.003) and at 1 month (p=0.004). Endothelial cell density (ECD), coefficient of variance and percentage hexagonality showed no significant changes during follow-up. Central corneal thickness significantly increased at day 1 (p<10-3). ECD at 6 months was negatively correlated with the total energy (p<10-3). ECD at 6 months was significantly lower in the eyes which received a total energy ≥ 280 mJ (versus< 280 mJ, p=0.02).

Conclusions:

Nd: Yag laser iridotomy results in a transient elevation of anterior chamber flare, and intraocular pressure. It does not seem to induce a significant endothelial cell loss at 6 months. However, higher total energies may lead to more severe insult to the corneal endothelium.

Financial Disclosure:

None