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Am J OphthalmolSeptember 202022 citations

Laser Trabeculoplasty for Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis.

Zhou Rouxi, Sun Yi, Chen Haiying, Sha Sha, He Miao, Wang Wei


AI Summary

This review found various laser trabeculoplasty types equally reduce IOP as medication for open-angle glaucoma, with 180-degree SLT slightly better than ALT at reducing medication burden.

Abstract

Purpose

We sought to comprehensively evaluate the effectiveness of different types of laser trabeculoplasty (LT) in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.

Design

Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Methods

Eligible randomized controlled trials were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Chinese Biomedical Literature Service System for studies published between January 1, 2000 and April 20, 2020. Eight interventions were evaluated, including argon LT (ALT), medications, 180-degree selective LT (SLT), 270-degree SLT, 360-degree SLT, new LT, transscleral 360-degree SLT with SLT performed without gonioscopy, and low-energy 360-degree SLT. The primary outcome was reduction of medicated and unmedicated intraocular pressure (IOP) at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included reduction of IOP at 12 months, incidences of complications, and change in number of medications. Head-to-head meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were performed using Stata and R software.

Results

In total, 22 studies were included, involving 2859 eyes of 2704 patients. In terms of IOP reduction at 6 and 12 months, there were no statistically significant differences in both medicated and unmedicated IOP between any pairs of interventions considered herein, as determined based on both head-to-head and network meta-analyses (all P > .05). In terms of reduction of medications, the individuals treated with 180-degree SLT required fewer medications than those treated with ALT at 12 months (0.28 [95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.50]; P = .014). No severe adverse outcomes were reported for any of the interventions.

Conclusions

All the available types of LT are equally effective for decreasing IOP compared with medication-based therapy. The 180-degree SLT was slightly more effective than ALT in terms of reducing the number of medications needed. Additional well-performed randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are needed.


MeSH Terms

Glaucoma, Open-AngleHumansIntraocular PressureLaser TherapyLasersTrabeculectomyTreatment Outcome

Key Concepts4

There were no statistically significant differences in both medicated and unmedicated intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction at 6 and 12 months between argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), medications, 180-degree selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), 270-degree SLT, 360-degree SLT, new LT, transscleral 360-degree SLT with SLT performed without gonioscopy, and low-energy 360-degree SLT (all P > .05).

Comparative EffectivenessMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review and Network Meta-Analysisn=22 studies, 2859 eyes of 2704 patientsCh28Ch38

Individuals treated with 180-degree selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) required fewer medications than those treated with argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) at 12 months (0.28 [95% confidence interval, 0.06-0.50]; P = .014).

Comparative EffectivenessMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review and Network Meta-Analysisn=22 studies, 2859 eyes of 2704 patientsCh28Ch38

All available types of laser trabeculoplasty (LT) are equally effective for decreasing intraocular pressure (IOP) compared with medication-based therapy for open-angle glaucoma.

Comparative EffectivenessMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review and Network Meta-Analysisn=22 studies, 2859 eyes of 2704 patientsCh28Ch38

No severe adverse outcomes were reported for any of the interventions including argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), medications, 180-degree selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), 270-degree SLT, 360-degree SLT, new LT, transscleral 360-degree SLT with SLT performed without gonioscopy, and low-energy 360-degree SLT.

TreatmentMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review and Network Meta-Analysisn=22 studies, 2859 eyes of 2704 patientsCh28Ch38

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