What factors influence whether SLT is effective?

A new study published in Eye has explored which factors influence the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).

Researchers from Norfolk & Norwich University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and University of East Anglia examined 264 SLT procedures performed on 127 patients at a single hospital over a 10-year period.

They looked at a range of factors, including the number of anti-glaucoma drops administered before SLT, intraocular pressure (IOP), age, treatment duration and disease duration.

The researchers determined that a greater number of drop administrations before SLT was a risk factor for failure of the treatment.

A year after SLT, the success rate for those who had never used drops was 62% while those who used a moderate number of drops had a success rate of between 36 to 41%.

Other statistically significant factors that influenced the likelihood of SLT success included the duration of drop therapy, exposure to drop preservatives, disease duration, age and previous cataract surgery.

“Long-term exposure to topical anti-glaucoma medication (especially if preserved), longer duration of disease and therapy, together with older age and prior cataract surgery, may all have a significant adverse effect on SLT outcome,” the authors highlighted.