In a retrospective survey of 143 eyes of 143 patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma, 0.2 second argon laser trabeculoplasty was found to produce a greater decrease in intra-ocular pressure, especially at higher initial values, and was associated with a reduction in the medications used. In addition, fewer patients required further intervention (repeat trabeculoplasty or drainage surgery) compared with those undergoing 0.1 second trabeculoplasty. This effect may have occurred because of the difference in the mean energy delivered between the two groups, which arose chiefly as a result of the duration employed.