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Sixty eyes undergoing Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser posterior capsulotomy were randomly assigned to pretreatment with either 0.5% timolol maleate or placebo. Half of the eyes in each group underwent capsulotomies performed with six 2-mJ bursts of energy, and the remaining eyes underwent capsulotomies performed with three 4-mJ bursts of energy. There was no significant difference in pressure responses between eyes treated with 2 or 4 mJ. The mean rise in intraocular pressure was significantly less in the timolol-pretreated group one hour after capsulotomy. After four hours, the difference between groups was not significant. Pretreating with timolol did not prevent late pressure rises. Nonpseudophakic eyes were more likely to sustain pressure increases greater than 10 mm than were pseudophakic eyes.

A study has been performed testing the relative bursting strength of sclera in rabbits treated with diathermy, cryotherapy, or ruby laser energy. Neither the cryotherapy nor laser appeared to weaken the strength of sclera, whereas the diathermy appeared to cause an appreciable loss of scleral bursting strength.

Thirty-seven Q-switched neodymium-YAG laser posterior capsulotomies were performed on 33 aphakic or pseudophakic eyes. The average intraocular pressure increase during the first 24 hours after treatment was 12.0 +/- 6.9 mm Hg from a baseline value of 17.7 mm Hg in the treated eye v +0.7 +/- 3.5 mm Hg in the untreated eye. Seven eyes had larger capsulotomies performed, averaging 250.7 millijoules (mJ) of energy per treatment. Thirty eyes had smaller posterior capsulotomies performed, averaging 48.3 mJ per treatment. Average IOP increases within the first day were 16.1 and 12 mm Hg, respectively. All eyes in which IOP increased more than 5 mm Hg showed the increase within the first 48 hours. In some eyes, IOP remained elevated more than 10 mm Hg above preoperative levels for several weeks. Higher pressures were associated with larger capsulotomies and increased energy. Minimizing debris and shock waves are recommended as well as thorough postoperative pressure monitoring.

Xanthelasma of the eyelids traditionally has been treated by excision, followed by suturing of the defect. A new technique of ablating these lesions using a superpulsed CO2 laser was used to treat a series of nine patients with xanthelasma. Advantages of this technique include: (1) superb hemostasis intraoperatively; (2) magnified view of tissue removal, enhancing complete excision; (3) the absence of suturing; (4) the avoidance of reconstructive procedures; and (5) a high degree of patient satisfaction, with minimal or no postoperative pain.