Efficacy and safety of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty for primary open angle glaucoma

AIM: To evaluate the efficiency and safety of micropulse laser trabeculoplasty(MLT) for primary open angle glaucoma(POAG) patients. METHODS: Retrospective study. POAG patients undergoing MLT in Peking University Third Hospital from June 2016 to November 2017. Seventy-two eyes of 72 POAG patients were enrolled. Only one eye of each patient was treated by MLT. The intraocular pressure(IOP) before MLT and at 1 d, 1, 4, 12 and 24 wk and glaucoma medication before and after treatment were compared.RESULTS: The IOP was 20.6±5.9 mm Hg before MLT and 20.8±6.8 mm Hg at 2 h after MTL. The IOP at 1 d, 1, 4, 12 and 24 wk was 17.9±4.4, 18.0±4.3, 17.5±3.4, 17.0±2.7, and 16.5±2.9 mm Hg, respectively. The IOP before and after MLT demonstrated a statistically significant difference by ANOVA analyses(F=5.797, P<0.001). Least significant difference t-tests showed there was no statistically significant difference between pre-MLT IOP within 2 h after MLT(P=0.207). The statistically significant difference was confirmed between the pre-MLT IOP at 1 d, 1, 4, 12 and 24 wk after MLT(P=0.006, 0.009, 0.001, <0.001, <0.001, respectively). The number of glaucoma medications before MLT was 1.7±1.4 and 1.5±1.4 24 wk after MLT with a significantly statistical difference(t=2.219, P=0.031)CONCLUSION: MLT is effective and safe for POAG patients. No patient experienced IOP spikes after MLT. The IOP 6 mo after treatment decreased significantly with less glaucoma medication.