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SLT, ALT equally effective over long term

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SAN FRANCISCO — Selective laser trabeculoplasty lowers intraocular pressure as effectively as argon laser trabeculoplasty over the long term, according to a surgeon speaking here.

Mark S. Juzych, MD, and colleagues at the Kresge Eye Institute retrospectively reviewed the charts of 41 consecutive SLT patients and 151 ALT patients receiving treatment for uncontrolled chronic open-angle glaucoma. Surgical success was defined as an IOP of less than 20 mm Hg without the use of medications and no need for additional surgery.

According to Dr. Juzych, both the ALT group and the SLT group experienced significant reduction in IOP from preoperative levels (P = .0001 for both groups). No significant difference was seen between the groups over the 3 years of follow-up.

After 1 year, 36% of ALT patients and 30% of SLT patients were considered successfully treated. This decreased to 28% of ALT patients and 22% of SLT patients at 2 years and further declined at 3 years to 25% for the ALT group and 19% for the SLT group.