Transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation as primary surgical treatment for secondary glaucoma in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: high failure rate after short term follow up.

AIM: To evaluate the success rates of transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation (TD-CPC) for secondary glaucoma in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) as primary surgical treatment.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review of 12 paediatric patients with JIA associated uveitis and secondary open angle glaucoma.
RESULTS: 21 eyes of the 12 patients had chronic anterior uveitis, 21 eyes had secondary open angle glaucoma, and 19 eyes were treated 41 times with TD-CPC. Patients underwent a mean of 2.15 treatment sessions per eye. Pretreatment intraocular pressure (IOP) was 30.2 (5.5) mm Hg before the first treatment, 30.5 (5.7) mm Hg before the second treatment, and 28.7 (6.3) mm Hg before the third treatment. Reduction of IOP 6 weeks after treatment was highest after the second and third treatments with 9.4 (8.8) and 8.7 (5.8) mm Hg, respectively and 5.2 (10.7) mm Hg after the first treatment. Qualified success (IOP </=21 mm Hg with glaucoma medication) was achieved at the end of follow up in six of 19 eyes (32%, follow up time 10.1 (9.3) months).
CONCLUSION: TD-CPC as a primary surgical treatment in JIA patients, is often unsatisfactory in eyes with uveitic glaucoma.