Efficacy of SLT in Patients With Insufficient IOP Control Under Maximum Tolerated Drug Therapy (Eye Drops)

Glaucoma

glaucoma, SLT, Laser treatment, IOP, glaucoma treated with eye drops but IOP not controlled

Examination and follow-up of efficacy and safety of SLT in patients with unsufficient IOP control despite maximum tolerated topical therapy. In addition, it will be examined whether medical treatment can be reduced after the SLT procedure and whether filtering surgery - as the only remaining option - may be postponed.

SLT (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) uses the Nd:YAG-Lasers (wavelength 532nm, Q-switched, frequency-doubled). Thanks to the low laser energy used and the short duration of treatment, only pigmented cells of the trabecular meshwork are targeted and selectively treated. Neighboring, non-pigmented cells and tissue are spared collateral and thermic damage, the architecture of the trabecular meshwork remains intact. The SLT procedure uses less than 1% of the energy of the ALT procedure with an extremely low pulsation duration. Several studies confirm the effective IOD reduction of SLT and rate the procedure as an relatively safe and effective therapy for glaucoma. Also repeated use of the SLT procedure is considered as meaningful. Meanwhile the SLT procedure is used as primary and supplementary treatment of glaucoma and study confirmed that the SLT procedure was just as effective as administration of Latanoprost in reducing IOD in newly-diagnosed glaucoma.

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