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. 1999 Jun;83(6):718–722. doi: 10.1136/bjo.83.6.718

Selective laser trabeculoplasty v argon laser trabeculoplasty: a prospective randomised clinical trial

K Damji 1, K Shah 1, W Rock 1, H Bains 1, W Hodge 1
PMCID: PMC1723059  PMID: 10340983

Abstract

AIMS—To compare the effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT, a 532 nm Nd:YAG laser) with argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) in lowering the intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with medically uncontrolled open angle glaucoma.
METHODS—A prospective randomised clinical trial was designed. Patients were randomised to treatment with either SLT or ALT and were evaluated at 1 hour, 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months post-laser.
RESULTS—There were 18 eyes in each group. Baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. In the SLT group the mean IOP at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months was 22.8 (SD 3.0), 20.1 (4.6), 19.3 (6.0), and 17.8 (4.8) mm Hg, respectively. In the ALT group, the mean IOP at baseline, 1, 3, and 6 months was 22.5 (3.6), 19.5 (4.7), 19.6 (5.6), and 17.7 (3.3) mm Hg, respectively. There was a greater anterior chamber reaction, 1 hour after SLT v ALT (p< 0.01). Patients with previous failed ALT had a better reduction in IOP with SLT than with repeat ALT (6.8 (2.4) v 3.6 (1.8) mm Hg; p = 0.01).
CONCLUSION—SLT appears to be equivalent to ALT in lowering IOP during the first 6 months after treatment. There is a slightly greater anterior chamber reaction 1 hour after SLT. Patients with previous failed ALT had a significantly greater drop in IOP when treated with SLT v ALT. These results need to be confirmed with a larger sample size.



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Figure 1  .

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Trial profile.

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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