title: A randomized clinical trial of selective laser trabeculoplasty versus argon laser trabeculoplasty in patients with pseudoexfoliation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) versus argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension secondary to pseudoexfoliation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicentered randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 76 eyes from 60 patients with pseudoexfoliation and uncontrolled IOP were recruited from 5 Canadian academic institutions. Patients with prior laser trabeculoplasty, ocular surgery within 6 months, previous glaucoma surgery, an advanced visual field defect, current steroid use, and monocular patients were excluded.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eyes were randomized to receive either 180-degree SLT or 180-degree ALT by a nonblocked randomization schedule stratified by center.
  
  
  METHODS
  The primary outcome was the change in IOP at 6 months versus baseline and secondary outcomes included change in number of glaucoma medications after laser. Baseline variables included age, sex, angle grade, angle pigmentation, and number of glaucoma medications.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 76 eyes, 45 eyes received SLT and 31 eyes received ALT. The overall age was 72.9 years (65% females). The baseline IOPs in the SLT and ALT groups were 23.1 and 25.2 mm Hg, respectively (P=0.03). The IOP reduction 6 months after SLT was -6.8 mm Hg and post-ALT was -7.7 mm Hg (P>0.05). The SLT group had reduced glaucoma medications by 0.16 medications at 6 months and the ALT group had no decrease in medications over the same time period (P=0.59). There were no postlaser IOP spikes in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ALT and SLT are equivalent in lowering IOP at 6 months posttreatment in patients with PXF.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Ophthalmology, University of Western Ontario, London †Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON ‡Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alberta, Edmonton ∥Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB §Department of Ophthalmology, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Shefalee S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Cindy M L
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Hutnik
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Birt
authors.forename: Karim F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Damji
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Harasymowycz
authors.forename: Francie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Si
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Crichton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000601:surgery*; D014130:Trabeculectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents