■ Both transscleral cyclocryocoagulation and cyclophotocoagulation using either Nd:YAG or diode laser are characterized by (a) a comparable success rate and (b) no linear dosage–efficacy relationship.

■ Because transscleral cyclophotocoagulation acts more selectively (by melanin absorption) than cyclocryocoagulation, (a) postoperative inflammatory reaction is less intense and (b) the risk of further scleral damage, such as scleral atrophy from scleritis, is lower.

■ There is a strong age-dependent probability of success for all cyclodestructive procedures, which is independent of the underlying type of glaucoma.

■ Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation has not only a lower risk profile, but also a lower success rate than other surgical procedures in pediatric glaucoma, including secondary glaucoma in pediatric uveitis. It remains a surgical procedure of last choice in children.

■ Transscleral cyclophotocoagulation offers a good therapeutic opportunity in older patients with uveitic glaucoma after other glaucoma surgery has failed. Probably it has the best benefit–risk ratio in scleritis-associated glaucoma if parameters of application are reduced.

■ Endoscopic cyclophotocoagulation is an intraocular procedure, which allows more precise diode laser application under direct visualization of the ciliary processes. Whereas the results in refractory glaucoma are encouraging, success rate is much lower in pediatric glaucoma. More experience is needed with this treatment modality concerning inflammatory glaucoma.