Status of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)

Purpose Worldwide, in recent years, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has developed into a very successful therapy for glaucoma. Material and Methods The article provides a review of the literature from PubMed and clinical experience. Results SLT is equally efficacious to argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) and to a first-line glaucoma medication. SLT can be used in most common forms of open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. In contrast to ALT, SLT is repeatable and requires much less energy. SLT has been reported to be also successful in some rare forms of ocular hypertension/glaucoma. There is no negative influence of SLT to other forms of glaucoma treatment. Complications are rare and include intraocular pressure spikes, corneal scarring or corneal decompensation due to endothelial cell damage and cystoid macular edema. The potential of SLT as a first-line treatment of glaucoma is now under investigation. Conclusion SLT is a low-risk procedure to treat glaucoma in a broad range of indications. Advantages of SLT include the potential to use SLT more and more as a primary treatment procedure. Therefore, SLT is now under intensive investigation worldwide.