Effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty in the complex treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma

Purpose: to determine the effectiveness of selective laser trabeculoplasty in the complex treatment of open-angle glaucoma. Material and Methods. Study group: 47 patients (53 eyes), mean age 70.0±9.1 (CI 69.8–73.1) years; men 44.7 % (n=21), women 55.3 % (n=26). Patients with stages 1–3 of open-angle glaucoma underwent tonometry, computed perimetry and OCT of the optic nerve disc at the beginning of the study and at least 6 months after the SLT. Decrease in IOP was defined as the difference between the pressure obtained within at least 6 months of observation and the initial level of IOP. Results. IOP before SLT was Me=24.0 mmHg (Q1‑Q3: 21.0–28.0 mmHg), after Me=20.0 mmHg (Q1‑Q3: 17.0–21.0 mmHg). Decrease in IOP was Me=4.0 mmHg (Q1‑Q3: 3.0–8.0 mmHg). IOP after SLT significantly decreased (p<0.05) in 88.7 % of cases. There was no statistically significant association between the variable “IOP decrease” and the stage of glaucoma (p=0.215), as well as between the decrease in IOP and previous glaucoma surgery (p=0.664). The correlation between the baseline value and the magnitude of the decrease in IOP is statistically significant (p<0.05, rxy=0.73). A linear dependence was obtained, at which, with an increase in the initial IOP by 1 mmHg decrease in IOP level will increase by 0.75 mmHg. Conclusion. SLT is an effective and safe method for lowering IOP, which makes it possible to recommend this procedure more often for all patients with open-angle glaucoma.