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With fewer meds, SLT gives same IOP results as medical therapy

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Selective laser trabeculoplasty offers similar IOP-reducing results as medical therapy alone, but with fewer medications, according to a study in Chinese eyes.

Jimmy S.M. Lai, FRCOphth and colleagues at The Chinese University of Hong Kong prospectively randomized 58 eyes of 29 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension into two groups; one received selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and the other received medical treatment. Follow-up was at intervals out to 6 months and then yearly for 5 years. Mean baseline IOP was 26.8 mm Hg in the SLT group and 26.2 mm Hg in the medical treatment group.

Failure was considered an IOP of 21 mm Hg or higher with maximal medication. The failure rate was 17.2% in the SLT group and 27.6% in the medical treatment group. There were no statistically significant differences in IOP between the two groups at any follow-up period.

The number of glaucoma medications in use was significantly lower in the SLT group than in the medical treatment group after 5 years (P < .001).

The study is published in the August issue of Clinical & Experimental Ophthalmology.