Short-Term Clinical Outcomes of Laser Trabeculoplasty Using a 577-nm Wavelength Laser

PURPOSE: To evaluate the pressure-lowering effects of single-spot laser trabeculoplasty and patterned laser trabeculoplasty using a 577-nm wavelength laser. METHODS: A total 35 eyes of 35 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were enrolled in this study. Eighteen eyes of 18 patients were treated with 360degrees single-spot laser trabeculoplasty and 17 eyes of 17 patients were treated with 360degrees patterned laser trabeculoplasty. All patients were evaluated after laser trabeculoplasty at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months using slit lamp examination and Goldmann applanation tonometry. RESULTS: At 6 months postoperatively, the single-spot laser trabeculoplasty group had a mean IOP of 15.89 +/- 3.89 mm Hg with a mean IOP reduction of 37.1%, while the patterned laser trabeculoplasty group had a mean IOP of 17.57 +/- 2.64 mm Hg with a mean IOP reduction of 27.1%. CONCLUSIONS: Laser trabeculoplasty with a 577-nm optically pumped semiconductor laser was safe and demonstrated an IOP lowering effect. There were no significant differences in the IOP lowering effects between the single-spot laser trabeculoplasty and the patterned laser trabeculoplasty.

Pattern Laser Trabeculoplasty Intraocular Pressure Reduction Efficacy in Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients on Medical Therapy

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of Pattern Laser Trabeculoplasty (PLT) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG). METHODS: Twenty-six eyes in patients with POAG and 14 eyes in patients with NTG were targeted in this study. The intraocular pressure (IOP) for each patient needed to be reduced within proper ranges. The clinical outcome was assessed by IOP at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months after PLT. RESULTS: The mean (+/- standard deviation) IOP in the POAG group was 20.7 +/- 4.1 mm Hg before treatment. After PLT, the IOPs in POAG group were 16.4 +/- 3.1 mm Hg, 16.9 +/- 3.8 mm Hg, and 16.5 +/- 5.2 mm Hg at 1, 6 and 9 months, respectively, and the pressure remained stabled over 9 months of post-procedural follow-up. However, no statistical difference in IOP reduction was observed in the NTG group before and after treatment. CONCLUSIONS: PLT provides a possibility to decrease additional medical therapy in patients with POAG. In addition, PLT can be considered as an auxiliary therapy for POAG patients who tolerate maximal medical therapy prior to undergoing surgical treatment.