SELECTIVE LASER TRABECULOPLASTY--SHORT TERM EFFICACY AND SAFETY PROFILE IN OPEN ANGLE GLAUCOMA OR OCULAR HYPERTENSION TREATMENT.

Unlabelled: Selective laser trabeculoplasty--medium term efficacy and safety profile in open anlgle glaucoma or ocular hypertension treatment: SLT effect in reducing the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Material and method: 70 eyes from 70 patients were included in the study in 2014 (12 months); the established design for this research was prospective and interventional. Patients received indication for SLT treatment as initial procedure or as adjuvant method in reducing the intraocular pressure when insufficient control with topical medication was noted. A single laser procedure was performed on 360 degrees. The result was verified and compared with baseline values of IOP at 1 month, 3 months respectively.

Results: IOP decreased at 1 month with 22.47% vs. baseline IOP and with 26.58% at 3 months. The IOP dynamics showed an additional 5.30% decrease between the intermediate and final values, with statistical significance for all the measured parameters (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: SLT applied on 360 degrees in a single session represents a safe and efficient procedure. The IOP decrease is marked at 1 month, but the effect continues until later, at 3 months interval after treatment. The higher the initial IOP was, the greater effect SLT has in decreasing the IOP level. Most frequently LST helps control the IOP, but rarely allows reducing or eliminating the glaucoma medication.