Purpose: To evaluate the clinical effects and surgical techniques of Neodymium-yttrium, aluminum, garnet(Nd: YAG) laser therapy for persistent pupillary membranes.
Methods: Twenty-five patients (26 eyes) with persistent pupillary membranes were suffered to resection membranes. The energy of laser was adjusted according to the thickness and density of the membranes. The laser with the best cutting effects and lowest energy was selected to resection. All patients were followed up for 3 - 6 months after the operation.
Results: All patients were cured after one laser therapy. The corrected visual acuities were improved in different degrees. Three eyes were 0.6 - 0.7 (11.5%), 5 eyes were 0.8-0.9 (19.2%) and 18 eyes were > or = 1. 0 (69.2%). No complication was observed.
Conclusion: The laser therapy for persistent pupillary membrane is an easy, safe and effective method only if the laser energy is appropriately selected, the focus is accurate and the operation is dexterity.