Gossman, 1992

Title: Experimental comparison of laser and cryosurgical cilia destruction.

Authors: Gossman DM, Brightwell JR, Huntington AC, Newton C, Yung R, Eggler S

Journal: Ophthalmic Surg 1992 Mar;23(3):179-82

PMID: 1574286, UI: 92244593

Affiliated institution: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Ky 40202.

Cited in:

We compared cryosurgery with the argon and carbon dioxide lasers in a rabbit model to evaluate the permanence of eyelash destruction as well as the gross and histologic effects on the eyelid. Each modality was equally effective in preventing eyelash regrowth. Cryosurgery and the carbon dioxide laser produced the greatest acute soft tissue swelling; the carbon dioxide laser produced the most pronounced gross eyelid alterations. The argon laser produced minimal eyelid tissue change. Long-term histologic tissue alterations were not striking and were confined to eyelids treated with cryosurgery and the carbon dioxide laser. We conclude that, of the two lasers, the argon is the best suited to the clinical treatment of trichiasis: it is widely available, more precise in limiting contiguous tissue destruction when delivered through a slit lamp, and is safer for use near the eye.