Laserex symposium addresses merits, mechanisms of SLT

New Orleans-Laserex held a breakfast symposium Sunday morning to address the merits and mechanisms of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and to provide a forum to discuss the efficacy of SLT in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

Among the speakers were Prof. John Marshall, London; Ike Ahmed, MD, Canada; Alessandro Porta, MD, and Fabio Ferentini, MD, Italy; and Andrew Iwach, MD, United States.

Professor Marshall addressed the mechanisms of SLT. He expounded the biological response following SLT treatment, concentrating on the process in which the absorption of green light by the melanin containing cells with the trabecular meshwork stimulates the release of cytokines and triggers macrophage recruitment to clear the cells that have absorbed the light, thereby improving the circulation of aqueous through the trabeculum.

Dr. Ahmed discussed the merits of SLT and focused on the findings from several clinical trials based on measuring the efficacy of SLT as both a primary and adjunctive therapy. He indicated that SLT has been clinically proven to be as effective as argon laser trabeculoplasty for lowering IOP, and that SLT can be considered a primary treatment option for patients who cannot tolerate glaucoma medications.

In addition, Dr. Ahmed highlighted the efficacy of SLT as an adjunctive therapy when used in conjunction with glaucoma medications.