ANALYSIS OF SELECTIVE LASER TRABECULOPLASTY EFFECTIVENESS

Purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in various forms of glaucoma, in the initial, advanced and far-advanced stages of the disease.

Material and methods. An analysis of the effectiveness of the treatment of 132 eyes (132 patients), who were examined and treated in the department of glaucoma diagnostics and treatment of Ekaterinburg Center of Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, has been performed from 2016 to 2018. The study included a group of patients with primary open-angle, pseudoexfoliation, pigment, and combined forms of glaucoma previously not operated. Laser iridotomy was previously performed in patients with pigmented and combined glaucoma. The efficacy of SLT was assessed by the level of intraocular pressure (IOP) before SLT, after three days, 1, 6 and 12 months, using the perimetric MD index and according to the need for repeated surgical interventions during the observation period.

 Results. By the end of the observation period after SLT in patients with initial glaucoma IOP decreased by 5.1 mm Hg (by 20.7 %), with advanced glaucoma – by 6.3 mm Hg (by 25.7 %), with far-advanced glaucoma – by 6.8 mm Hg (by 31 %) compared to baseline values. Analysis of SLT effectiveness depending on the form of the disease showed that 12 months after surgery IOP in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma decreased by 5.5 ± 1.32 mm Hg (23 %) compared with baseline figures, and in patients with combined glaucoma – by 5.5 ± 1, 5 mm Hg (22.8 %). In the follow-up period from 6 to 12 months after SLT, 88 % of patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, 64 % of patients with pigmentary glaucoma and 34 % of patients with combined glaucoma underwent non-penetrating deep sclerectomy, 15 % of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma underwent repeated SLT.

Conclusion. SLT is the safe and effective method of glaucoma treating. In all forms and stages of glaucoma, target IOP was obtained, as evidenced by stabilization of retinal sensitivity by automated perimetry, but the hypotensive effect after SLT in patients with pseudoexfoliation glaucoma and pigmentary glaucoma lasted less than 1 year.

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