Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty for Medically Uncontrolled Pseudoexfoliation Glaucoma in Korean Patients

Purpose: This study investigated the efficacy and safety of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in Korean patients with medicallyuncontrolled pseudoexfoliation glaucoma (PEXG). Methods: This retrospective observational study enrolled 43 medically uncontrolled PEXG patients who underwent a 360°SLT and were followed up for at least 12 months after SLT. The intraocular pressure (IOP) before and after SLT at 1 week, 1, 3,6, and 12 months was evaluated. Treatment success was defined as an IOP reduction of ≥20% from the baseline and an IOPequal to lower than 22 mmHg without additional anti-glaucomatous intervention. Additionally, every follow-up medical recordwas reviewed to assess any possible side effects of SLT. Results: Based on the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the treatment success rate at 12 months after SLT was 41.9% (18 eyes). For the success group at the 12 months follow-up, SLT showed a mean IOP reduction of 10.3 ± 5.0 mmHg (from 25.6 ± 4.4 to15.2 ± 2.9 mmHg; 39.3%, p < 0.05). Among the 25 eyes that were considered as the treatment failure group, 14 eyes underwentglaucoma filtering surgeries, four eyes received additional SLT, and further intervention and follow-up was refused forseven eyes. During the overall follow-up period, there were no significant adverse events. Conclusions: SLT is a partially effective and safe procedure for lowering IOP in Korean patients with medically refractoryPEXG. Therefore, it can be considered as one of the alternative treatment modalities in patients who are at high risk for conventionalfiltering surgery.