16 February 2026
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.
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