Premium
Selective laser trabeculoplasty as replacement therapy in medically controlled glaucoma patients
Author(s) -
De Keyser Myrjam,
De Belder Maya,
De Belder Jonas,
De Groot Veva
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.13509
Subject(s) - medicine , glaucoma , intraocular pressure , randomized controlled trial , ophthalmology , medical therapy , glaucoma medication , surgery
Purpose We examined selective laser trabeculoplasty ( SLT ) as a replacement therapy for medically controlled open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertensive patients. Methods A prospective randomized interventional clinical trial on 143 glaucoma patients. Patients were randomized to either receiving SLT or to the control group that continued on pressure lowering medication. Data were recorded 1 hr, 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 18 months after SLT . Primary outcome was number of medications at 12 and 18 months while maintaining a predetermined target intraocular pressure ( IOP ). Results Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) reduced number of medications from a mean of 1.5 at baseline, to 0.35 after 12 months and 0.29 after 18 months. Meanwhile, SLT achieved more than 20% IOP lowering in 95% of eyes and more than 30% IOP lowering in 86% of eyes after 18 months. Seventy‐seven per cent of our eyes no longer needed any medication after SLT at 18 months. Conclusion Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) enabled a reduction in number of medications while maintaining good IOP control. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) was able to completely replace medical therapy in 77% of eyes after 18 months. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as replacement therapy may reduce local and systemic side‐effects and prevent adherence issues.