Ultrasound biomicroscopy before and after transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation

Purpose: To report the ultrasound biomicroscopic appearance of the ciliary body and ciliary processes before and after transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation. Methods: 14 eyes of 14 patients, ages 38 to 83 (mean 75) were studied with ultrasound biomicroscopy using a 50-MHz transducer. The patients was laid supine and the examination was performed preoperatively to establish the position of the ciliary body to ensure correct laser probe placement and postoperatively to image early and late ciliary body alterations after the procedure (1 week, 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment). Results: Ultrasound biomicroscopy measurement of the distance from the ciliary body to the limbus was used to establish the position of the coagulative spots for cyclophotocoagulation on an individual basis in all patients, confirming the conventionally assumed 1.5 mm distance from the limbus. Ultrasound biomicroscopy did not permit visualization of structural alteration of the ciliary body after cyclophotocoagulation in 70% of eyes and showed atrophic and hyperreflective ciliary body in 30% at last follow-up Conclusion: Ultrasound biomicroscopy is a non-invasive, safe and easy echographic technique that can show the outcome of the transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation, suggesting the distance from the limbus of the ciliar body, to ensure correct laser probe placement. Our results should provide useful information on the value of the ultrasound biomicroscopic before and after transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation.