Pattern-Laser-Trabekuloplastik und Argon-Laser-Trabekuloplastik zur Glaukombehandlung

Mid-term results of patterned laser trabeculoplasty for uncontrolled ocular hypertension and primary open angle glaucoma

AIM

To describe the safety and efficacy of patterned laser trabeculoplasty (PLT) as an adjunctive treatment in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT) after 18-month follow-up in Hispanic population.

METHODS

A single-center, retrospective study was conducted. All patients with OHT or POAG undergoing PLT from June 2016 to August 2016 were included in the study. Investigated parameters were intraocular pressure (IOP), the number of IOP-lowering medications, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), laser parameters and postoperative adverse events. Primary efficacy outcome measures were the proportion of eyes achieving an IOP reduction ≥20% at 18mo versus baseline medicated IOP or a reduction in the number of medications while maintaining IOP values.

RESULTS

From 40 PLT-treated eyes (mean baseline IOP 20.3±1.7 mm Hg), 24 patients were analyzed (age 63.4±7.3y). The mean IOP reductions from baseline across visits (months 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 18) ranged from 14.1% to 20.8%. Success rate after 18-month follow-up was 61.7% with a mean IOP of 16±3.2 mm Hg (P<0.001). The number of glaucoma IOP-lowering medications per eye (preoperative 2.1±1.1 and postoperative 2.3±1.1, P=0.86) and the mean BCVA (preoperative 0.10±0.22 and postoperative 0.11±0.22 logMAR, P=0.42) remained stable. Adverse events comprised transitory IOP spikes in 4 eyes (10%) and peripheral anterior synechiae in 7 eyes (17.5%).

CONCLUSION

Mid-term results of PLT show that this procedure may be an efficacious and safe technique to approach medically uncontrolled OHT or POAG patients.

Outcomes of pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty and selective laser trabeculoplasty: Results from the lausanne laser trabeculoplasty registry

PURPOSE

To compare the long-term safety and efficacy of pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty (PSLT) and selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).

METHODS

This was a retrospective database analysis (Lausanne Laser Trabeculoplasty Registry) of patients having had laser trabeculoplasty (LT) prior to 2017 with a minimum follow-up of 1 year. Inclusion criteria were age ≥40 years and diagnosis of ocular hypertension (OHT) and open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) eyes were matched to PSLT eyes according to baseline intraocular pressure (IOP), baseline number of ocular hypotensive medications (OHM) and glaucoma diagnosis. Success was defined as an IOP ≤ 20% from baseline or an IOP equal or lower than baseline accompanied by a reduction in OHM. Multivariate regression models were used to study associations between success and baseline clinical parameters.

RESULTS

From 280 eyes in the database, 81 eyes had PSLT and were matched with 81 SLT eyes (162 patients). Mean age was 69.4 ± 12.1 years, and 56.2% were female. Mean IOP was 18.6 ± 5.3 and 18.2 ± 4.1 mmHg at baseline and 15.9 ± 3.0 and 16.0 ± 3.4 mmHg at 12 months and 15.2 ± 2.7 and 16.2 ± 3.4 mmHg at 24 months, for PSLT and SLT, respectively. 60.5% of PSLT and 65.4% of SLT eyes achieved treatment success (p = 0.20). Number of OHM was 1.0 ± 1.0 and 1.4 ± 1.2, respectively (p = 0.052). Baseline IOP (OR = 1.23, p < 0.01) and number of OHM (OR = 1.67, p < 0.01) were associated with success in both PSLT and SLT, while LT modality was not [OR = 0.81 (0.43-1.53), p = 0.52], and a diagnosis of primary OAG was negatively associated (OR = 0.42, p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

Our study did not find any significant differences between PSLT and SLT in terms of safety and efficacy in patients with OHT and glaucoma. Baseline IOP was associated with higher success rates in both procedures. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the outcomes of PSLT in non-Caucasian populations and the ability of repeat PSLT to achieve additional IOP reduction.

Lasers in Glaucoma: an Overview

Lasers have been in use as a treatment modality of glaucoma for more than last four decades. Each passing year has added newer dimensions to the existing laser technologies enhancing their safety and efficacy profile. This has become possible due to continuous research and innovations with proper understanding of the mechanism of action of different variety of lasers as treatment options. Each category of glaucoma has different underlying pathologies. Adequate knowledge and understanding of indications, limitations and hazards of these laser procedures are must before their application for improvising outcome. Recent years have witnessed a revolution this field. A thorough literature search was conducted in PubMed, Medline, the Cochrane Library Database, EMBASE, and Scopus and Google Scholar until May 2020 using the keywords, and all the articles pertaining to the relevant topics were included in this review. Purpose of this review is to summarize the important laser procedures currently in use for managing glaucoma along with updating the readers with recent advances in laser technologies, their extended applications and also analyzing possible future implications.

New approaches to selective laser trabeculoplasty

Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is the “golden standard” of laser glaucoma surgery. Its efficacy can be compared to pharmacological therapy, while in some cases its advantages may even lead to a more stable hypotensive effect. SLT may be used as a primary treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma patients and patients with ocular hypertension, while also considered safe and effective in cases when a repeat procedure is required. SLT may potentially decrease the demand for antiglaucoma drugs, improve patient’s response to treatment, make the treatment more comfortable and overall increase the patient’s quality of life. New modifications of standard laser treatment procedures have been emerging lately. This article summarizes scientific data on the efficacy and safety of the new generation of laser trabeculoplasty. It specifies the charateristics of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty (MLT), pattern-scanning trabeculoplasty (PLT) and titaniumsapphire laser trabeculoplasty (TSLT) and recounts the latest research dedicated to them.

Clinical outcomes of patterned laser trabeculoplasty as adjuvant therapy in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

AIM

To assess the efficacy and safety of patterned laser trabeculoplasty (PLT) as an adjunctive treatment in open angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) patients who were under antiglaucoma medical treatment.

METHODS

This study was a retrospective review of primary or secondary OAG patients and OHT patients with medically uncontrolled (≥18 mm Hg) intraocular pressure (IOP) who underwent 360° PLT from June 2016 to August 2016. Follow-up visits at week 1, and 1, 3 and 6mo were performed. IOP, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), complications and eye drop glaucoma medication were recorded at each follow-up visit. Success was defined as IOP reduction ≥20% from baseline.

RESULTS

Forty-one eyes of 25 patients were included in this study. Pre-treatment mean IOP was 20.2±1.6 mm Hg. After PLT, IOP was 19.3±5.2, 16.1±2.7, 17.1±3.7 and 16.3±3.5 mm Hg, at 1wk, 1, 3 and 6mo, respectively. IOP reduction from baseline was statistically significant from the first month, remaining stable at 6mo (P<0.001). PLT success at 6mo of follow-up was 48.78%. The number of glaucoma medication per eye (P=0.10) and the mean BCVA both remained constant (P=0.37). Complications included transient IOP spikes in 4 eyes (9.8%) and peripheral anterior synechiae in 7 eyes (17.1%).

CONCLUSION

PLT is an effective and safe method for the management of patients with OHT or OAG as an adjunctive therapy. Additional larger studies should be designed to verify the long-term stability of IOP reduction with this laser technology.

Evolution of Concepts and Technologies in Ophthalmic Laser Therapy

Ophthalmology was the first medical specialty to adopt lasers right after their invention more than 50 years ago, and they gradually revolutionized ocular imaging, diagnostics, therapy, and surgery. Challenging precision, safety, and selectivity requirements for ocular therapeutic and surgical procedures keep advancing the laser technologies, which in turn continue enabling novel applications for the preservation and restoration of sight. Modern lasers can provide single-cell-layer selectivity in therapy, submicrometer precision in three-dimensional image-guided surgery, and nondamaging retinal therapy under optoacoustic temperature control. This article reviews the evolution of laser technologies; progress in understanding of the laser-tissue interactions; and concepts, misconceptions, and accidental discoveries that led to modern therapeutic and surgical applications of lasers in ophthalmology. It begins with a brief historical overview, followed by a description of the laser-tissue interactions and corresponding ophthalmic applications.

Comparing pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty to selective laser trabeculoplasty: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE

To compare safety, tolerability and intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy of pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty (PSLT) with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in fellow eyes of untreated patients with glaucoma.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

PARTICIPANTS

Twenty-nine patients (58 eyes) with primary and secondary open angle glaucoma (OAG) were randomized to undergo PSLT or SLT in each eye.

METHODS

Pattern scanning laser trabeculoplasty was performed using the Pascal laser (Pascal Streamline 577; Topcon Inc., Tokyo, Japan). Patients' comfort level to treatment was assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). Follow-up visits were at week 1, month 1, 3 and 6. Success was defined as IOP reduction ≥20%.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Safety, tolerability and IOP reduction.

RESULTS

The mean age of patients was 54.1 ± 15.5 years. Baseline IOP was similar between both groups (PSLT, 17.3 ± 4.0 mmHg; SLT, 16.8 ± 3.6 mmHg, p > 0.05). In the PSLT group, the mean IOP at 1, 3 and 6 months was 14.2 ± 3.5, 13.9 ± 2.6 and 14.0 ± 2.7 mmHg, respectively. In the SLT group, the mean IOP at 1, 3 and 6 months was 14.4 ± 4.1, 13.7 ± 3.2 and 13.7 ± 3.1 mmHg, respectively. The IOP reduction in the PSLT group was greater than the SLT group at 1 month (p < 0.01) and 3 months (p < 0.01). VAS score was better in PSLT eyes: 23.9 ± 20.5 (range, 0-82) than in SLT eyes: 50.4 ± 25.3 (range, 0-98) (p < 0.001). No serious adverse events were recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

Both laser modalities had similar safety and efficacy profiles while PSLT was better tolerated by patients.