SLT's successful clinical implementation will rank among ophthalmology's milestones

Key Points

Dr Madhu Nagar, a consultant ophthalmologist and lead clinician, specialising in glaucoma management, is a strong advocate of the treatment: "Selective laser trebeculoplasty embodies the qualities and capabilities that the literature and my clinical experience ascribe to ideal glaucoma treatment. It can be used early enough to enable patients to avoid vision loss, is effective and repeatable and it eliminates or reduces compliance issues because it eliminates or reduces dependence on glaucoma drugs.

"These factors and others were addressed at the annual meeting of the European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ESCRS) by me," continued Dr Nagar, "and other glaucoma specialists including Prof. Jens Funk, MD, Lawrence F. Jindra, MD, and Karin Hornykewycz, MD. Prof. Funk, of Zurich, moderated the event and shared his preliminary SLT research findings, while Dr Jindra, a U.S. glaucoma specialist and long-time SLT proponent, presented long-term outcomes. Dr Hornykewycz, of Austria, and I reported our SLT findings, as well, adding to a growing body of data substantiating the therapy's efficacy as a primary glaucoma treatment."

Efficacy of SLT in patients with insufficient control of IOP under max drug therapy

Professor J. Funk, Dr Cornelia Hirn, Dr Sandrine ZweifelUniversitätsspital Zurich, eye clinic, Switzerland

Inclusions & exclusions

Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (including normal tension glaucoma), pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEX) and ocular hypertension were enrolled in our open, prospective, non-controlled study. A previous Argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) is not considered an exclusion criterion. The standard exclusion criteria apply. Follow-up examinations were performed after 2 hours, 1, 30, 90, 180 and 360 days postoperative.