The prediction of intraocular pressure rise following argon laser trabeculoplasty.

Forty-five patients with poorly controlled chronic open angle glaucoma underwent pneumotonography immediately prior to argon laser trabeculoplasty. The coefficient of facility of outflow (c-value) was calculated from the pneumotonography and correlated with the intraocular pressure rise one hour after the argon laser trabeculoplasty. It appeared that there was a strong relationship between a low c-value indicating a poor outflow facility and a large intraocular pressure rise following argon laser trabeculoplasty. The implications of being able to predict the intraocular pressure rise after argon laser trabeculoplasty are discussed.