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“Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty” offers great promise
for glaucoma patients. Using this laser therapy, we may be able to help
patients avoid surgery and reduce their dependence on eye drops.
The SLT laser treatment selectively targets pigmented cells while
preserving the surrounding tissue. “This means that the SLT causes no
thermal damage
to the tissue and allows multiple re-treatments to lower pressure. This
is a significant advantage over traditional therapies since it causes no
coagulative damage, or clotting, within the trabecular meshwork of the
eye.
SLT lowers intraocular pressure by using short pulses of low-energy
laser light to target cells in the trabecular meshwork of the eye. In
the past, most ophthalmologists used the argon laser to lower the
pressure in the eye. However, this laser has little or no effect with
about one-fifth of patients. Moreover, for those who receive some
benefit from the treatment, in 50 percent of the cases, the effect wears
off after five years.
Clinical Studies
Since the physicians at Grossnickle Eye Center have begun using the SLT laser,
our physicians have noted average drop
in intraocular pressure of 4-5 mm Hg.
Among national clinical trials, Coherent Medical Group, the manufacturer
of the laser, conducted a multi-center, prospective clinical study to
evaluate its effectiveness. The study looked at 125 Caucasian, Black and
Hispanic patients. At 26 weeks post-SLT, there was a significant
decrease in intraocular pressure as compared to the baseline pressure. |
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