Selective laser trabeculoplasty versus argon laser trabeculoplasty: results from a 1-year randomised clinical trial.
OBJECTIVE
To compare selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), in terms of intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering, in patients with open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
176 eyes of 152 patients were enrolled in this study, 89 in the SLT and 87 in the ALT groups. Patients were randomised to receive either SLT or ALT treatment to 180 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. Patients were followed up to 12 months after treatment. The main outcome measured was IOP lowering at 12 months after treatment, compared between the SLT and ALT groups.


RESULTS
No significant difference (p = 0.846) was found in mean decrease in IOP between the SLT (5.86 mm Hg) and ALT (6.04 mm Hg) groups at 1 year or at any other time points, nor were there any significant differences in the rate of early or late complications between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
SLT is equivalent to ALT in terms of IOP lowering at 1 year, and is a safe and effective procedure for patients with open-angle glaucoma.
Damji
K F
KF
University of Ottawa Eye Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. kdamji@ohri.ca
Bovell
A M
AM
Hodge
W G
WG
Rock
W
W
Shah
K
K
Buhrmann
R
R
Pan
Y I
YI
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome