Project description:Aim:The aim of this study was to prospectively compare the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) vs micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT) in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma patients. Patients and methods:In all, 38 patients were randomized to 360° MLT and 31 patients were randomized to 360° SLT. IOP was measured at intervals of 1 hour and 1, 1-6, 6-12, 6-24, 24-36, and 36-52 weeks. Patients completed a survey 1 week after the procedure. Patients with end-stage, neovascular, uveitic, or angle-closure glaucoma were excluded. Treatment response was defined as an IOP reduction of ?20.0% or ?3 mmHg from baseline. Results:IOP was lowered to ?3 mmHg from baseline among 37.0% of the micropulse patients and 36.0% of patients in the selective laser group at 24-52 weeks. Similarly, 29.6% of the micropulse patients and 36.0% of the selective laser patients experienced a 20.0% IOP decrease from baseline during the 24-52-week interval (P=0.77). Both groups revealed similar reductions in IOP as absolute values and percentage decreases from baseline at all intervals up to 52 weeks post treatment. There were more treatment failures in the micropulse group up to 52 weeks post laser treatment; however, this was not statistically significant. The micropulse group reported less pain both during and after the procedure (P=0.005). Conclusion:Micropulse trabeculoplasty has demonstrated similar efficacy to SLT over a 52-week follow-up period with less discomfort experienced both during and after the procedure.
Project description:ImportancePrimary selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a safe primary treatment for open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). However, there is limited evidence on its use as a secondary treatment, ie, after prior use of ocular hypotensive eye drops.ObjectiveTo evaluate outcomes following SLT after using hypotensive eye drops for at least 3 years.Design, setting, and participantsThis is a post hoc exploratory analysis of data from a multicenter randomized clinical trial conducted within the UK National Health Service. Participants were patients with OAG or OHT who participated in the LiGHT trial. Data were analyzed from February 2021 to December 2024.InterventionParticipants were initially randomized to either primary SLT or primary hypotensive eye drops and remained on the allocated treatment pathway for 3 years. Participants using eye drops were then allowed to have secondary SLT as a treatment switch (to reduce their medication load) or as a treatment escalation (if more intense treatment was needed). Participants were treated and monitored according to a predefined protocol.Main outcomes and measuresThe outcomes of interest were rates of incisional glaucoma surgery, medication use, and intraocular pressure.ResultsIn total, 633 participants entered the extension of the LiGHT trial, and 524 participants (82.8%) completed the extension (72 months). Of 320 participants receiving primary hypotensive eye drops, 112 (35.0%) received SLT: 70 participants switched to SLT, 29 participants had SLT as a treatment escalation, and 13 participants had SLT as a treatment escalation in 1 eye and as a treatment switch in the other eye. Switching to SLT was associated with a reduction in the number of medications (mean [SD], 1.38 [0.62] to 0.59 [0.92] active ingredients; mean difference, 0.79 [95% CI 0.66 to 0.93] active ingredients; P < .001). At 72 months, 69 eyes that switched to SLT (60.5%) needed no medical or surgical treatment, and 62 eyes receiving 1 drug before switching (83.8%) needed no medical treatment. Escalating to SLT was associated with a mean intraocular pressure reduction of 4.6 mm Hg (21.8%), and 30 eyes (62.5%) reached target intraocular pressure at 72 months without the need for surgery; 9 eyes (18.7%) needed a trabeculectomy.Conclusions and relevanceThis secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that secondary SLT was associated with a reduction in the medication load for stable, medically treated eyes. For medically uncontrolled eyes, there is evidence that SLT could provide additional intraocular pressure control, but the need for trabeculectomy was not eliminated.Trial registrationisrctn.org Identifier: ISRCTN32038223.
Project description:ObjectiveTo examine possible differences in clinical outcomes between selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in open-angle glaucoma at different times post-treatment.MethodsRandomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing SLT versus ALT were searched through August 2013. The main outcome measure was IOP, and secondary outcomes included the number of glaucoma medications, the success rate, and adverse events.ResultsSix RCTs, involving 482 eyes treated with laser trabeculoplasty, were included in the meta-analysis. For all patients (including first and previous laser trabeculoplasy), no significant difference in IOP lowering was observed between SLT and ALT at one hour (P = 0.40), one week (P = 0.72), one month (P = 0.37), six months (P = 0.08), one year (P = 0.34), two years (P = 0.58), three years (P = 0.34), four years (P = 0.47), and five years (P = 0.50). A statistically significant difference in favor of SLT was found when comparing the IOP reduction at three months after intervention (weighted mean difference (WMD): 1.19 mmHg [0.41; 1.97]; I(2)=0%; P = 0.003). For patients who were naive to laser, there was no significant difference of reduction in IOP comparing SLT with ALT at any time point. In patients' previous LT, no statistically significant difference in IOP reduction was found at six months (WMD: 1.92 mmHg [-0.91; 4.74]; I(2) = 77.3%; P = 0.18). There was no significant difference in the reduction in the number of glaucoma medications, the success rate, or adverse event rates between the two treatments.ConclusionsSLT has equivalent efficacy to ALT with a similar constellation of side effects. In the case of retreatment, SLT appears to be similar to ALT in IOP lowering at six months.
Project description:Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a glaucoma treatment that reduces intraocular pressure (IOP). Its mechanism is based on the biological effects of the selective application of laser energy to pigmented trabecular meshwork (TM) cells, resulting in increased outflow facility. Herein, we review current publications on SLT and summarize its efficacy and safety for different indications in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) treatment. SLT effectively reduces IOP when used as a primary treatment. In patients whose IOP is medically controlled, SLT helps to reduce medication use, and when maximally tolerated topical therapy is ineffective, SLT facilitates the realization of the target IOP. SLT is a repeatable procedure for which the vast majority of complications are mild and self-limiting. With effective IOP reduction, low complication rates and the potential to repeat the procedure, SLT offers the possibility of delaying the introduction of medical therapy and other more invasive treatment modalities while simultaneously avoiding the accompanying complications. With this knowledge, we suggest that SLT be considered as an essential primary treatment option in OAG and OHT, switching to other treatment modalities only when laser procedures are insufficient for achieving the required target IOP.
Project description:PURPOSE:To identify factors associated with intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction following selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in Afro-Caribbean people with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). DESIGN:This was a prospective stepped-wedge study. METHODS:Data were drawn from 72 Afro-Caribbean subjects with POAG participating in the ongoing West Indies Glaucoma Laser Study. Multivariable mixed-model analysis was utilized to develop a predictive model for percent IOP reduction 12 months following SLT. Putative factors (age, sex, site, baseline IOP, prior use of prostaglandin therapy, number of prewashout IOP-lowering medications, central corneal thickness, severity of glaucoma, duration of follow-up, and signs of acute postoperative inflammation) were evaluated in bivariate analysis. Factors significant at P?0.2 were included in the final model. Right and left eye data were modeled separately. RESULTS:At month 12 following SLT, mean IOP reductions in the West Indies Glaucoma Laser Study were 6.2 to 6.5?mm?Hg (29.7% to 31.0%) in right and left eyes. The only factor significant in both eyes (P=0.0005 in right eyes and P<0.0001 in left eyes) was time, with IOP reductions being greatest at month 3 and declining slightly over time through month 12. Vertical cup-disc ratio (P=0.006) and prior prostaglandin therapy (P=0.004) were significant only in right eyes, and central corneal thickness (P=0.014) was significant only in left eyes. Factors significant only unilaterally did not approach significance in fellow eyes, suggesting the possibility that these represent type 1 errors. Site (St. Lucia vs. Dominica) was not a significant factor, establishing generalizability of these treatment outcomes to a broader population of African-derived people. CONCLUSIONS:This analysis did not identify any subject-specific factors consistently predictive of therapeutic response to SLT. Of note, no factors predicted a suboptimal response. These findings favorably position SLT for broad application as primary therapy in African-derived people with POAG.
Project description:UnlabelledThis article aims to investigate the clinical results at 2 years after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for normal tension glaucoma (NTG). This prospective cohort study recruited NTG patients taking antiglaucoma medication. Subjects were excluded if they had previous glaucoma surgery/laser or corneal pathologies. All subjects underwent a 1-month washout. A single session of SLT was performed to 360° of the trabecular meshwork. Medication was resumed at 1 month to achieve a targeted 30% intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction from the post-washout/pre-SLT IOP. IOP was measured every 3 months and medication use was recorded at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Subjects with a secondary SLT or cataract extraction were excluded from IOP and medication analyses. At 24 months, 34 of the initial 45 right eyes were eligible for analyses. There were significant IOP reductions at all time intervals (except at 1 week) following SLT when compared to the prestudy (without medication) or pre-SLT (post-washout) IOP (P < 0.0001). Medications were likewise significantly reduced at all time intervals following SLT (P < 0.0001). At 24 months, the IOP was 11.5% lower than the prestudy IOP, 22.0% lower than the pre-SLT IOP, and medication use was reduced by 41.1% (P < 0.0001). Six out of 45 eyes (13.3%) required a secondary SLT. Absolute success (IOP reduction >20% from pre-SLT, without medication) was achieved in 11.1% (5/45). Reductions in IOP and medication use were evident at 2 years following SLT for the treatment of NTG whereas 11% remained medication free.Trial registrationsThe Clinical Trials Register of the University of Hong Kong HKCTR1847. The European Clinical Trials Database 2014-003305-15 (August 11, 2014).
Project description:BackgroundNormal tension glaucoma (NTG) is commonly treated with anti-glaucoma medications. Recently, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been demonstrated to lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication use in NTG. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a single session of SLT for NTG at 1 year.MethodsThis prospective cohort study recruited NTG patients taking anti-glaucoma medication. Potential subjects were excluded if they had had previous glaucoma surgery or laser and also if intraocular surgery or additional SLT procedures were performed after the first treatment. All subjects underwent a 1-month washout. A 30% IOP reduction was set as the target IOP. A single session of SLT was performed to 360 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. At 1-month after SLT, medication was resumed to achieve the target IOP. The IOP was measured every 3 months, and the number of medications was recorded at 3, 6, and 12 months. Only the right eye was used for statistical analysis.ResultsIn 41 right eyes, the mean pre-study IOP was 14.3 ± 3.4 mmHg while on 1.5 ± 0.8 eye drops. The post-washout IOP was 16.2 ± 2.2 mmHg. A mean of 191.1 ± 26.3 SLT shots at 1.0 ± 0.07 mJ were applied. There was significant IOP reduction at all time intervals following SLT when compared to the post-washout IOP (P < 0.0001). The number of medications was significantly reduced at all time intervals following SLT when compared to the pre-study level (P < 0.0001). At 12 months, the mean IOP was 12.2 ± 2.2 mmHg while on 1.1 ± 0.9 eye drops.ConclusionsA single session of SLT for NTG achieved an additional 15% IOP reduction while using 27% less medication at 1 year compared to pre-study levels.Trial registrationThe Clinical Trials Register of the University of Hong Kong HKCTR1847 The European Clinical Trials Database 2014-003305-15 (August 11, 2014) ( https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2014-003305-15 ).
Project description:PurposeTo characterize the 12-month intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as sole therapy for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in an Afro-Caribbean population.DesignStepped-wedge trial.MethodsSubjects in St. Lucia and Dominica with established POAG were randomized to prompt washout of IOP-lowering medications followed by SLT, 3-month delay followed by washout and SLT, or 6-month delay followed by washout and SLT. Baseline IOP was obtained on 2 different days after washout. Bilateral 360-degree SLT was performed in 1 session. Posttreatment assessments took place 1 hour, 1 week, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months post-SLT. The main outcome measure was SLT success (defined as IOP ≤ target IOP in both eyes) at 12 months. Target IOP was a 20% or greater reduction in IOP from postwashout baseline.ResultsOverall, 72 patients underwent SLT treatment. Mean IOP at enrollment was 15.4 ± 3.6 mm Hg in right eyes and 15.4 ± 3.6 mm Hg in left eyes, which rose to 21.0 ± 3.3 mm Hg and 20.9 ± 3.0 mm Hg, respectively, after washout. Mean IOP at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months ranged from 12.5 mm Hg to 14.5 mm Hg (29.7% to 39.5%; P < .0001 in each eye at each time point). The 12-month success rate was 78%. Transient photophobia and discomfort were common.ConclusionsSLT monotherapy safely provides significant IOP reduction in Afro-Caribbean eyes with POAG. This treatment can play a significant role in preventing glaucoma vision loss and blindness in people of African descent living in resource-limited regions.
Project description:PrecisIn the absence of prophylactic anti-inflammatory therapy, anterior chamber inflammation (characterized by cells and less commonly flare) is minimal and transient after selective laser trabeculoplasty in Afro-Caribbean glaucoma patients.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to characterize the prevalence, severity, and duration of anterior chamber inflammation (cells and flare) following selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in Afro-Caribbean eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).MethodsIn total 144 eyes of 72 POAG patients underwent first-time 360-degree SLT treatment following washout of all topical medications in the prospective West Indies Glaucoma Laser Study. No anti-inflammatory therapy was used post-SLT. Anterior chamber cells and flare were characterized pre-SLT after medication washout, and 1 week, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-SLT using the standardized methodology described by the Society for Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) in which cells and flare are each graded on a scale of 0-4+ using specific slit-lamp settings.ResultsMean cell scores in both right and left eyes rose significantly (P<0.0001) from baseline to week 1 after SLT before returning to baseline values at all subsequent time points. Mean flare scores in right eyes (P=0.0185) but not left eyes (P=0.1816) rose from baseline to week 1 after SLT before returning to baseline values at all subsequent time points. Cells appeared in 40.3% of eyes and flare appeared in 9.7% of eyes after SLT. One subject developed bilateral symptomatic anterior iritis one day postoperatively and reported a previously undisclosed history of recurrent iritis; the iritis resolved with topical steroid therapy.ConclusionsSLT in Afro-Caribbean people with POAG is associated with mild, short-lived and self-limited anterior chamber inflammation. Routine anti-inflammatory therapy to suppress posttreatment inflammation after SLT is unnecessary in this population.
Project description:AbstractThis article aims to investigate the clinical results at 2 years after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) for normal tension glaucoma (NTG).This prospective cohort study recruited NTG patients taking antiglaucoma medication. Subjects were excluded if they had previous glaucoma surgery/laser or corneal pathologies. All subjects underwent a 1-month washout. A single session of SLT was performed to 360° of the trabecular meshwork. Medication was resumed at 1 month to achieve a targeted 30% intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction from the post-washout/pre-SLT IOP. IOP was measured every 3 months and medication use was recorded at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Subjects with a secondary SLT or cataract extraction were excluded from IOP and medication analyses.At 24 months, 34 of the initial 45 right eyes were eligible for analyses. There were significant IOP reductions at all time intervals (except at 1 week) following SLT when compared to the prestudy (without medication) or pre-SLT (post-washout) IOP (P < 0.0001). Medications were likewise significantly reduced at all time intervals following SLT (P < 0.0001). At 24 months, the IOP was 11.5% lower than the prestudy IOP, 22.0% lower than the pre-SLT IOP, and medication use was reduced by 41.1% (P < 0.0001). Six out of 45 eyes (13.3%) required a secondary SLT. Absolute success (IOP reduction >20% from pre-SLT, without medication) was achieved in 11.1% (5/45).Reductions in IOP and medication use were evident at 2 years following SLT for the treatment of NTG whereas 11% remained medication free.Trial Registrations: The Clinical Trials Register of the University of Hong Kong HKCTR1847. The European Clinical Trials Database 2014-003305-15 (August 11, 2014).