Laser iridectomy in tuberculous uveitis complicated by glaucoma and ophthalmic hypertension

By means of an ophthalmological device "Iatagan", laser iridectomy, in personal modification, was made in 54 patients with chronic (in 40 cases--tuberculosis) uveitis in 67 eyes with predominantly organic changes in the anterior chamber angle. Before operation, ophthalmic hypertension was recorded in 55 eyes, of them glaucoma of different stages--in 43 (in 12 eyes intraocular pressure was normal). In immediate and remote terms, normalization of intraocular pressure was achieved in more than 60% of cases. Complications were rare and, as a rule, easily removed. There were no essential differences in effectiveness of laser iridectomy used in tuberculous and nontuberculous uveitis. The results obtained speak about the expediency of wide usage of laser iridectomy in chronic uveitis for both therapeutic and prophylactic purposes.