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Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) outcomes following topical therapy

Eye (2026)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Introduction

This real-world, retrospective review of SLT outcomes at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust aimed to establish whether there is any net benefit in using topical drop treatment prior to SLT compared with proceeding directly to SLT as a first-line treatment. Several studies have shown that SLT gives the greatest reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) for eyes that have not received prior treatment with drops. Here, we look at different topical therapies used prior to SLT and investigate SLT efficacy following these.

Method

Data were collected from 196 SLT naïve eyes with ocular hypertension or primary open-angle glaucoma who underwent SLT between January 2022 and May 2022. The eyes had received either no prior topical therapy or one or more topical IOP-lowering agents.

Results

No significant difference was found in the overall reduction in IOP after SLT between eyes treated with prostaglandin analogue (PGA) drops alone prior to SLT (7.89 mmHg, n = 74) and eyes that received SLT as first-line treatment (6.88 mmHg, n = 56). Eyes also treated with beta-blockers did show a greater reduction in IOP.

Conclusion

This retrospective study, based in a UK NHS centre, found no significant benefit in using PGA drops prior to SLT compared to SLT as first-line treatment for lowering IOP.

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Fig. 1: Scatter graphs showing correlation between reduction in IOP and initial IOP.
Fig. 2: Reduction in IOP following drops and SLT.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are not openly available due to reasons of sensitivity and patient confidentiality, but are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. Data are in controlled access data storage at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Chorley, UK

    Frances Davies

  2. University of Greater Manchester, Bolton, UK

    Michael K. Butler

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  1. Frances Davies
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  2. Michael K. Butler
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Contributions

FD initiated this study, led the literature search, carried out the data collection process and contributed to writing the paper. MKB carried out the statistical analysis and led the writing of the results section. FD and MKB  both contributed to editing and agreeing on the final document for submission.

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Correspondence to Frances Davies.

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Davies, F., Butler, M.K. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) outcomes following topical therapy. Eye (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-04221-2

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