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SLT remains a viable option for glaucoma treatment
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 Mark A. Latina |
PARIS — Ten years after selective laser trabeculoplasty received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, it has become increasingly used as an effective primary glaucoma treatment, a clinician said here.
“Where are we [now]? I think, basically, now SLT has widespread acceptance as an overall safe and effective procedure to lower intraocular pressure,” Mark A. Latina, MD, who invented SLT in 1995, said at the World Glaucoma Congress. “It’s an effective adjunct to glaucoma therapy without, of course, the fear of noncompliance.”
He outlined studies that examined the procedure’s effectiveness and benefits, including its repeatability. If SLT is successful with the first application, it has a “high probability for repeat success,” Dr. Latina said.
It also has a low complication rate with no systemic side effects. When IOP spikes occur, they are usually within 1 or 2 hours after the procedure. Iritis can occur postoperatively but typically resolves with steroid use, Dr. Latina said. Corneal edema has occurred in rare instances.
- Disclosure: Dr. Latina has proprietary interest in selective laser trabeculoplasty and is a consultant for Lumenis.