2M.D. Asistant Professor, Bozok University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology Yozgat/TURKEY Purpose: To investigate the long-term clinical results of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) as a primary treatment modality in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients.
Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study 41 eyes (30 primary open angle glaucoma, 11 ocular hypertension) of 31 patients diagnosed to have glaucoma with accessible two year follow-up and treated with SLT were evaluated. SLT was performed as an initial therapy in all cases and none of the eyes were using any glaucoma medication. In all eyes. SLT was performed over 360 degree in 29 eyes and over 180 degree in 12 eyes. Follow-up data were evaluated 1 day, 1 week, 6 week, 6 month, 1 year and 2 year after treatment.
Results: The mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) of the patients was 25.34±5.74 mmHg. The mean IOP reductions from baseline at the 1 day, 1 week, 6 week, 6 month, 1 year and 2 year follow up visits were 10.14 mmHg (38.24%), 6.12 mmHg (24.23%), 6.41 mmHg (25.57%), 6.97 mmHg (26.02%), 6.19 mmHg (23.79%), and 5.95 mmHg (21.03%), respectively. The mean IOP values at all follow-up visits were significantly lower than the initial values (all, p<0.001). There was no significant difference in the average percent IOP reduction levels between the 180 degree and 360 degree treated groups(p>0.05). During the first year, success cannot be achieved in 7 cases(17%) with the SLT treatment.
Conclusion: SLT seemed to be successful as a primary treatment in most cases of newly diagnosed primary open angle and ocular hypertension glaucoma in Turkish population, but its effect diminishes over time.
Keywords : Selective laser trabeculoplasty, glaucoma, glaucoma treatment