A new six-year analysis from the LiGHT trial has added further weight to the case for selective laser trabeculoplasty, or SLT, as first-line treatment for glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
For many years, glaucoma treatment has often started with eye drops. However, long-term data now suggest that starting with SLT may do more than lower eye pressure. It may also help preserve visual field more effectively over time.
This is important because glaucoma is not simply about pressure. It is about protecting vision for the long term. If a treatment can slow structural and functional deterioration while reducing the burden of daily drops, that matters to both clinicians and patients.
The new data are especially relevant for patients with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. They support the view that SLT should not be seen as a fallback option after drops, but as a strong first-line treatment strategy in appropriate patients.
At Edgbaston Eye Clinic, led by Mr Don Williams, located at the Consulting Rooms, 38 Harborne Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 3EB offers detailed glaucoma assessment and SLT laser treatment where appropriate. If you have glaucoma, ocular hypertension, or concerns about long-term drop burden, a specialist review can help determine the most suitable treatment pathway for you.