| Title | Treatment-related quality of life after selective laser trabeculoplasty |
| Abstract Nr. | 1047 |
| Purpose | We compared quality of life and treatment satisfaction between patients who had selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) and those on medication. |
| Methods | A prospective clinical trial on 143 glaucoma patients that received SLT and a control group that continued using anti glaucoma medication. Tear break-up time (BUT), punctuate keratitis, need for help, use of artificial tears and the Treatment Satisfaction Survey of Intraocular Pressure (IOP) were measured at baseline, after 6 and 12 months. |
| Results | SLT was able to reduce the mean number of medications needed from 1.56 ± 0.81 to 0.42 ± 0.66 after six months and to 0.33 ± 0.69 after one year. Punctuate keratitis was observed significantly less often (12.24%) after SLT than before (35.94%) (p = .03). Use of artificial tears and BUT did not change significantly after SLT (p > .05). Patients in the SLT group were significantly less convinced of medication effectiveness (p = .006) and complained more about side effects (p = .003) at baseline. After SLT, patients had significantly more confidence in their therapy (p < .001), showed much less side effects (p = .006), complained less about changes in appearance of the eyes (p = .003) and were less bothered by inconvenience of (p < .001) and problems to administrate remaining eye drops (p < .001). |
| Conclusion | SLT was able to improve treatment-related quality of life in glaucoma patients. |
| Conflict of interest | No |
| Last name | DE KEYSER |
| Initials | M |
| Department | Universiteit Antwerpen |
| City | Antwerpen |
| Last name | De Belder |
| Initials | M |
| Department | Universiteit Gent |
| City | Gent |
| Last name | De Groot |
| Initials | V |
| Department | Universitair Hospitaal |
| City | Edegem |