Background: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) targets the pigmented trabecular meshwork (TM) cells without damage to the adjacent non-pigmented tissue. A study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SLT in the treatment of uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma. Methods: In a prospective non-randomized study 44 eyes of 31 patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma were treated with a frequency-doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. A total of approximately 50 spots were placed over 180° of the TM at energy levels ranging from 0.7 to 0.9 mJ. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured 1, 2, and 24 h, 1 and 2 weeks and 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after treatment. Results: The average pre-operative IOP was 25.6 (SD 2.6) mm Hg (range 22–34). The mean IOP reduction from baseline at 24 h, 3, 6 and 12 months was 7.1 mm Hg (SD 3.5) or 27.6%; 4.2 mm Hg (SD 3.5) or 16.4%; 4.7 mm Hg (SD 4.2) or 18.6%, and 4.4 mm Hg (SD 3.8) or 17.1%, respectively. The percent of eyes with IOP reduction of 3 mm Hg or more at 3, 6 and 12 months was 66, 78 and 62%. A pressure spike of 8 mm Hg or more was detected in 4 eyes (9.1%). Anterior chamber reaction was seen 1 h after SLT and was mild to moderate in 16 eyes (40.4%) and marked in 3 eyes (6.8%). Conclusions: SLT has shown reasonable efficacy in lowering IOP over 1-year follow-up, but there was a tendency for IOP to increase with a longer follow-up. Long-term follow-up studies with a large sample size are needed to determine whether the IOP lowering effect is sustained over time, and to assess the efficacy of repeated SLT.

Keywords:
Selective laser trabeculoplasty, Glaucoma treatment
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© 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel
2003
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