Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Compared to Medication for Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

AI Generated Summary*

Sixteen randomized controlled trials enrolling 2412 adults with open-angle glaucoma, from searches ending January 2024, were pooled to compare selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), alone or paired with drug therapy, against medication alone. At 52 weeks or beyond, intraocular pressure fell significantly in both arms, with standardized mean differences (SMDs) of 1.91 (95% CI 1.55 to 2.27) for SLT and 1.70 (1.01 to 2.38) for medication, which the authors read as greater long-term lowering with SLT, though heterogeneity was high. At six months, combined therapy significantly reduced medication use (SMD 0.78), whereas medication alone showed no significant change. Quality of life appeared comparable across five trials, adverse event evidence was judged inconclusive, and one trial carried high risk of bias.

*This summary was generated by AI and is published unedited. Oku does not alter these summaries. It may contain errors or omissions and is provided for general informational purposes only. Oku does not guarantee its accuracy, completeness, or reliability. For authoritative information, please refer to the original, peer-reviewed article.