Argon Laser Pretreatment in Nd: YAG Iridotomy

Argon laser pretreatment prior to Nd: YAG laser iridotomy may decrease the incidence of operative hemorrhage. In a prospective, randomized clinical trial involving 12 patients (24 eyes), one eye was randomly assigned treatment with the Nd: YAG laser alone, while the other eye was pretreated with argon laser photocoagulation immediately prior to Nd:YAG laser. Eight of the 12 eyes (67%) treated with Nd: YAG laser alone had operative hemorrhages; only 2 of the 12 (17%) pretreated eyes did. Thus, argon laser pretreatment significantly reduced the incidence of hemorrhage during Nd: YAG iridotomy (P= .012).