SLT versus ALT in Glaucoma Patients Treated Previously with 360-degree SLT—A Randomised, Single-Blind, Equivalence Clinical Trial
Abstract
Our objectives were to compare the efficacy and safety between selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) for the open-angle glaucoma patients who had 360-degree SLT previously and to explore the baseline predictors for the treatment success. Data were obtained from a multicenter, patient-masked, randomised, parallel-group, active-controlled trial. The enrolled patients were randomly assigned to receive either SLT or ALT. At 12-month follow-up, the mean intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction was 3.35 mmHg and 3.36 mmHg after SLT and ALT respectively. The difference of mean IOP reduction was -0.01 mmHg (n=115). The 95% CI of the difference was between -1.86 to 1.84 mmHg and was within the predetermined equivalence margin (-3 to +3 mmHg). Baseline IOP and number of glaucoma medication were significant predictors of treatment success (OR, 1.19 and 0.63). The findings suggest that although SLT had an equivalent IOP-lowering effect as ALT after the failure of 360-degree SLT, repeat laser treatments had a lower efficacy than the primary ones.