Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty versus Argon Laser Trabeculoplasty in Patients with Uncontrolled Open-Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose

To compare the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) as treatment and retreatment to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with uncontrolled open-angle glaucoma (OAG) on maximally tolerated medication therapy with a follow-up of 12 months.

Methods

A total of 120 eyes of 120 patients with uncontrolled OAG were enrolled in the study. Group A included patients with IOP >22 mmHg on maximal medical therapy. A total of 43 eyes underwent SLT treatment and 41 eyes underwent ALT treatment. At the end of the follow-up IOP was <18 mmHg. Group B included patients with IOP >20 mmHg at 3 months follow-up after SLT or ALT treatment. These patients were retreated randomly, 18 with SLT and 18 with ALT.

Results

In Group A at the end of the follow-up there was no statistically significant difference in IOP lowering between SLT (6.01 mmHg) and ALT (6.12) (p=0.794). In Group B at the end of the follow-up patients undergoing SLT presented IOP lowering statistically significant to ALT treatment (6.24 mmHg and 4.65 mmHg, respectively, p<0.01).

Discussion

SLT is effective as treatment for patients with OAG and appears to be equivalent to ALT in IOP lowering at 12 months only in patients without a prior treatment. In case of retreatment SLT appears to be better than ALT in IOP lowering.