title: Intraocular pressure reduction after selective laser trabeculoplasty in primary open angle glaucoma.
abstract: The aim of this prospective clinical study was to investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). SLT represents a new method in the treatment of POAG. Fifty eyes with uncontrolled POAG were treated with a frequency doubled, Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The pattern of treatment was applying approximately 50 burns to 180 degrees of the trabecular meshwork at energy levels ranging from 0.40-0.92 mJ per pulse. After SLT eyes were maintained with the identical hypotensive medical therapy as that before treatment. IOP was measured before treatment, 1 and 7 days after treatment and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. The mean pretreatment IOP was 22.48 (SD 1.84) mm Hg. At the end of 1 month follow-up period the mean reduction of IOP was 4.86 (SD 2.38) mmHg or 21.6%; after 3 months the mean reduction was 5.66 (SD 2.40) mmHg or 25.2%; after 6 months the mean reduction of IOP was 5.06 (SD 2.37) mmHg or 22.5%; at the end of 12 months follow-up period the mean reduction was 4.92 (SD 2.58) mmHg or 21.9%. It can be concluded that SLT presents a new and effective method of IOP reduction in the treatment of POAG.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Maribor, Department of Ophthalmology, Maribor, Slovenia.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gracner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014130:Trabeculectomy