Evaluation of selective laser trabeculoplasty effectiveness in cases with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of a single-session of 180° selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as primary treatment in newly diagnosed cases with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEG) and ocular hypertension (OHT).
METHODS: Thirty-six eyes of 36 PEG cases (PEG-group) and 32 eyes of 32 OHT cases (OHT-group) were included in the study. Intraocular pressure (IOP), central corneal thickness (CCT), and endothelial cell count (ECC) were noted at baseline and post-SLT 3rd month. IOP reduction and success rates were detected. Inter and intragroup comparisons were made.
RESULTS: At baseline, age and gender distributions of groups were similar (P > 0.05). Baseline IOP was 26.7 ± 1.6 in PEG-group and 27.2 ± 1.2 mmHg in OHT-group (P = 0.648). In both groups, there was a significant decrease in IOP at 3rd month com-pared to baseline (P < 0.001). IOP at 3rd month was 18.9 ± 1.1 in PEG-group and 19.6 ± 0.6 mmHg in OHT-group (P = 0.507). IOP reduction rate (29.2% vs. 27.9%, P = 0.807) and success rate (69.4% vs. 75%, P = 0.846) were similar in PEG-group and OHT-group. Baseline CCT was 541.4 ± 25.3 in PEG-group and 543.3 ± 22.1 µm in OHT-group (P = 0.581), while baseline ECC was 2496.5 ± 231.8 and 2512.3 ± 242.7 cells/mm2, respectively (P = 0.324). In groups, no significant change was detected in CCT and ECC values at 3rd month compared to baseline (P > 0.05). IOP, CCT, and ECC values of groups were similar at 3rd month (P > 0.05).
CONCLUSION: We found that single-session of 180° SLT was similarly effective in reducing the IOP in newly diagnosed PEG and OHT cases. We also detected that it was safe for cornea and could be used as primary treatment in newly diagnosed cases.