The impact of anti-inflammatory therapy on intraocular pressure reduction following selective laser trabeculoplasty.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE To determine whether the use of postoperative topical anti-inflammatory therapy affects the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this prospective, randomized, observer-masked study, 25 participants with primary open-angle glaucoma following bilateral 360 degrees selective laser trabeculoplasty used prednisolone acetate 1% four times daily in one randomly selected eye for 1 week. IOP was assessed at baseline and 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after selective laser trabeculoplasty. RESULTS Baseline IOP and selective laser trabeculoplasty treatment parameters were comparable in both groups. Mean IOP was similar in eyes that did and did not receive steroid therapy at 1 week (17.0 vs 16.3 mm Hg, respectively, P = .613), 1 month (16.8 vs 16.2 mm Hg, respectively; P = .571), and 3 months (16.0 vs 15.8 mm Hg, respectively; P = .819). CONCLUSION A 1-week course of topical prednisolone acetate 1% four times daily did not affect the IOP-lowering effect of selective laser trabeculoplasty in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma.