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Nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery made easier with CO2 laser, surgeon says
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BARCELONA — The use of CO2 laser makes nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery easier and reproducible and therefore accessible to all surgeons, according to a specialist speaking here.
"Nonpenetrating glaucoma surgery is a notoriously difficult technique. This is the main reason why only a limited number of surgeons perform it worldwide," Elie Dahan, MD, said at the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons meeting.
Compared with other lasers that have been used in the attempt to simplify the procedure, the CO2 laser has the advantage of ablating dry tissue in a rapid, controlled manner and stopping immediately when it comes into contact with water.
"The first flap is performed manually. Then, the laser is used to vaporize the underlying sclera tissue — forming the 'lake' — and unroofing Schlemm's canal," Dr. Dahan said. "As soon as the aqueous starts flowing out of the canal, the laser stops.
"Any surgeon can do this. There is no way of making mistakes with the laser," he said.
This technique is currently being evaluated in a nine-center worldwide clinical trial.