Effect of Prior Cataract Surgery on the Clinical Outcome of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in phakic and pseudophakic eyes in primary open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Charts of 55 phakic eyes and 24 pseudophakic eyes that underwent 360-degree SLT were retrospectively reviewed. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured before SLT and 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months after SLT. Treatment success was defined as IOP reduction > or = 20% without additional medications, laser or glaucoma surgery. Mean IOP change, mean percentage of IOP reduction and success rates of phakic and pseudophakic eyes were compared. RESULTS: Mean percentage of IOP reduction after SLT at 1 week and 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months were 18.8%, 23.9%, 24.6%, 23.3%, 24.0%, 22.1%, 20.8%, and 17.9%, respectively, in the phakic group and 15.7%, 22.3%, 23.7%, 25.3%, 25.6%, 25.2%, 21.9%, and 19.3%, respectively, in the pseudophakic group. Success rates were 57.6 +/- 11.9% in the phakic group and 61.3 +/- 10.4% in the pseudophakic group. No statistically significant differences in IOP change, percentage of IOP reduction, and success rates were observed between the groups at each time point after SLT (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Application of 360-degree SLT appears an efficient treatment option for the management of phakic and pseudophakic open-angle glaucoma. Evaluating the success of SLT 1 month postoperatively may be premature.