Effect of central corneal thickness on the outcome of selective laser trabeculoplasty : texas experience

Abstract EN

Objectives: To determine if central corneal thickness influences Intra Ocular Pressure (IOP) lowering response of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with medically uncontrolled primary open angle glaucoma.

Methods: Consecutive patients who received selective laser trabeculoplasty during May 2011 through June 2013 were enrolled in this retrospective chart review study.

Information gathered included age, gender, race, central corneal thickness and type of glaucoma.

Number of glaucoma medications, visual acuity, and IOP were assessed before and after treatment.

Results: Data from 48 patients (77 eyes) were used in the analysis.

There were no significant differences in the number of glaucoma medications used or visual acuity before or after treatment.

IOP measurements decreased 10.3% over preoperative levels through 18-months from a mean preoperative pressure of 18.4  5.5 to 16.5  4.7 mmHg (P < 0.0005).

The mean central corneal thickness was 533.8  38.0 m.

The treated eyes were divided into two groups by central corneal thickness: thin (<555m), and thick (>555m).

There was no difference in mean IOPs of the groups preoperatively, but during the 18 months follow-up there was a significant mean change in intraocular pressure within the thin group (-2.5 mmHg, 95%CI [-3.8, -1.2], p=0.0002) but not in the thick group (-1.6mmHg, 95% CI [-3.4, +0.2], p=0.08).

However, the difference between the central corneal thickness groups was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Selective laser trabeculoplasty was more effective in reducing IOP, when used as an adjunct to medical therapy for glaucoma, in patients with thin central corneal thickness (<555m) than those with thick central corneal thickness (>555m).