Inflammation assessment after selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) treatment

Abstract

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) appears to be a safe and effective method to lower intraocular pressure (IOP). The exact mechanism of action for reducing IOP and inflammation levels is not known. The aim of this study was to assess inflammation after SLT treatment. Forty patients (80 eyes) were included in the study. Glaucoma (pigmentary and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma)/ocular hypertension patients that will be treated with SLT in just one eye, both with and without eye-drops. patients suffering from ocular or systemic inflammatory diseases are treated with cortisone or immunosuppressive drugs. Inflammation was measured in two different ways: (i) clinically with a slit lamp and classified 0-4; (ii) objectively with a 'Laser flare meter (Kowa FM 500)'. Measurements were taken before SLT, 2 hr, 1 week and 1 month after SLT treatment, both eyes were evaluated. IOP was also checked in the same way. SLT treatment was performed in 90°. Inflammation before and after SLT showed no significant difference measured clinically with slit lamp and objectively with the laser flare meter among the groups. No inflammation or IOP reduction was found in the untreated eyes. No IOP spikes after SLT treatment were found. Selective laser trabeculoplasty treatment seems not to induce inflammation in the anterior chamber when 90° was treated. SLT effectively and safely lowers IOP and might be considered as primary therapy.