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SLT may be more effective as secondary treatment in black patients

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FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Black patients had a significantly higher reduction in glaucoma medications than white patients when selective laser trabeculoplasty was used as secondary treatment, a study found.

The retrospective chart review examined the effects of SLT in 1,403 eyes of glaucoma patients of different ethnicities as both primary and secondary treatment. Follow-up was 5 years.

In a poster presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology meeting, Lawrence F. Jindra, MD, and colleagues found that SLT reduced IOP in white and black patients as primary and secondary treatment. When SLT was used as secondary treatment, the mean decrease in medications for black and white patients was significantly different: Black patients experienced a drop of 54%, while white patients had a drop of 33%.

In an interview with Ocular Surgery News, Dr. Jindra said the study showed that SLT has a major impact on medication use in black patients, helping reduce compliance issues, topical systemic side effects and other key factors.

"It's a huge cost-saving benefit to the patient and society," he said.