Principal Investigator: 

Prof. Augusto Azuara-Blanco  

Name of the Study:

Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG): A Randomized Controlled Trial

GLAUrious

Why is this Study important?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that results in damage to the optic nerve that progresses over time. One of the main risk factors in glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure, caused by a build-up of fluid in the eye. Glaucoma can result in blindness if left untreated and as such it is extremely important to diagnose and treat the condition. Usually doctors treat the first symptoms of glaucoma by prescribing eye drops. Unfortunately, there can be side effect associated with the use of these eye drops and there are reports of non-compliance due to difficulties in inserting these drops, all of which can impact on how effective this treatment regimen is. Selective Laser Trabecuplasty (SLT) is a laser treatment that facilitates the outflow of fluid from inside the eyes. This has the potential of reducing the intraocular pressure within the eye (the main way in which the disease is treated since there is no cure) and may assist in helping to control the progression of this disease.

What is the Research question/aim?

SLT (standard treatment) is a technique routinely carried out by glaucoma specialists. It is conducted using a special type of lens (goniolens) that gently sits on the front surface of the eye. The procedure takes approximately 5 minutes in duration. This new treatment, Directive Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) is performed directly, without there being any need to use a goniolens which sits on the eye, and it is a shorter and simpler technique. In preliminary studies, it has been shown to have similar pressure reducing abilities to the standard SLT technique.

The purpose of this study is to assess how well the new automated DSLT device developed by BELKIN Laser Ltf, works in comparison with the standard SLT and determine that it is as effective in reducing intraocular pressure.

What the Study involves: 

The study involves up to 10 two hour vists visits to the NICRF over a year.

Who can take part in the Study?

Patients with open angle glaucoma

Contact Information:

Principal Investigator:

Prof. Augusto Azuara-Blanco

Institute for Health Sciences

Centre for Public Health

Royal Victoria Hospital
Belfast
BT12 6BA

a.azuara-blanco@qub.ac.uk

Study Coordinator:

Lucia Dalton

Research Optometrist

NICRF

U Floor

Belfast City Hospital

Belfast

BT9 7AB

l.dalton@qub.ac.uk

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