title: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) complicated by intraocular pressure elevation in eyes with heavily pigmented trabecular meshworks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report and assess the complication of intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with heavily pigmented trabecular meshworks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Noncomparative, observational case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective analysis of the medical files of four glaucoma patients with heavily pigmented trabecular meshwork, who presented with IOP elevations after SLT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All four glaucoma patients presented with post-SLT IOP elevations. Three had features of pigmentary dispersion syndrome, and the fourth had a heavily pigmented trabecular meshwork. Two patients had previous argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in the same eye in which SLT was performed, and one had a previous ocular trauma. Eventually, three of the patients required surgical trabeculectomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case series suggests that post-SLT IOP elevations can be a serious adverse event in some glaucomatous patients. It is recommended by the authors that patients with a deeply pigmented trabecular meshwork, taking multiple topical medications and having previous ALT treatment, should be considered at higher risk for this complication.
authors.affiliation: Ophthalmology Department, University of Montreal, Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital, 5689 Boulevard Rosemont, Montreal, Quebec H1T 2H1, Canada. pavloh@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Harasymowycz
authors.forename: Demosthenes G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Papamatheakis
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latina
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Leon
authors.forename: Mark R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Lesk
authors.forename: Karim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Damji
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D017495:Hyperpigmentation / Q000601:surgery*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*