Pros and cons of SLT
Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
SLT does not rely on medicines, instead, uses an advanced laser system to target only specific cells of the eye—those containing melanin, a natural pigment. This allows for only these cells to be affected, leaving surrounding tissue in tact. As a result, your body's own healing response helps lower the pressure in your eye. There is not really a disadvantage of SLT compared to other available treatments. Mostly drop use and preservative toxicity is minimised as fewer drops are usually required after surgery, and the procedure is free of systemic side effects. Advantages of the SLT procedure:

  • SLT is proven to reduce IOP
  • SLT has no general side effects
  • SLT is effective as primary, adjunctive or repeat therapy
  • SLT is a safe, office-based procedure
  • SLT protects the trabecular meshwork
  • SLT improves patient compliance
  • SLT is reimbursed by most insurance policies

Click here for contact information for Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty


References

Lanzetta, U Menchini, G Virgili. Immediate intraocular pressure response to selective laser trabeculoplasty. Fr. J. Ophthalmol., Jan 1999; 83:29-32.

Latina MA, Sibayan SA, Shin DH, Noecker RJ, Marcellino G. Q-switched 532-nm Nd:YAG laser trabeculoplasty (Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty). Ophthalmology 1998;105:2082-2090.

S. Melamed MD, Ben Simon MD, H. Levkovitch-Verbin MD. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as Primary Treatment for Openangle Glaucoma. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003; 121:957-960.

Noecker RJ, Kramer TR. Comparison of the acute morphologic changes after selective laser trabeculoplasty and argon laser trabeculoplasty in human eye bank eyes. Ophthalmology, Apr 2001; 108(4):773-9.

Alvarado JA, Latina MA, Damji KF, Katz LJ. The Science Underlying Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmology Management, June 2002.
Last Updated ( Thursday, 15 November 2007 )