Selective laser trabeculoplasty in steroid-induced and uveitic glaucoma

Can J Ophthalmol. 2022 Aug;57(4):277-283. doi: 10.1016/j.jcjo.2021.05.006. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Abstract

Objective: To compare primary selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) response in uveitic, steroid-induced, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PEX).

Design: Single-centre retrospective case-control study.

Participants: Patients with uveitic glaucoma, steroid-induced glaucoma, POAG, or PEX who had their first SLT.

Methods: Eyes with POAG or PEX were in control groups. Eyes with steroid-induced or uveitic glaucoma were in experimental groups. Change in intraocular pressure from baseline, treatment failure, complication rates, and medication use were compared using rank-sum and log-rank tests.

Results: Six-hundred and eight eyes of 433 patients were enrolled. Steroid-induced glaucoma eyes had higher mean baseline pressure and a decrease in pressure at 3-8 weeks (27.6-17.4 mm Hg) than those with PEX (21.7-16.5 mm Hg; p < 0.001) or POAG (18.6-14.9 mm Hg; p ≤ 0.025). Failure rates after 2 years were lower in steroid-induced glaucoma (54%) than in PEX (84%; p = 0.01) or POAG (84%; p = 0.005). This survival benefit persisted when excluding patients with changes to their steroid dosing (p ≤ 0.03) but showed mixed results when compared with patients with a baseline pressure of 25mm Hg or greater (p = 0.020 vs PEX; p = 0.67 vs POAG). At 18 months, the steroid-induced group decreased ocular hypotensive medication use (3.5-1.9; p = 0.005); the uveitic group increased medication use (2.7-3.5; p = 0.02).

Conclusions: SLT is an effective treatment for steroid-induced glaucoma, with greater response and a lower failure rate than in PEX and primary POAG, although high baseline intraocular pressure may be a confounder. Judicious use of SLT can be considered in uveitic glaucoma.

MeSH terms

  • Case-Control Studies
  • Glaucoma* / chemically induced
  • Glaucoma* / surgery
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle* / chemically induced
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle* / diagnosis
  • Glaucoma, Open-Angle* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intraocular Pressure
  • Laser Therapy* / methods
  • Lasers
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Steroids / adverse effects
  • Trabeculectomy* / methods
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Steroids