Randomized Controlled Comparison of Titanium-Sapphire Versus Standard Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser Trabeculoplasty

To evaluate the clinical effects of laser trabeculoplasty using a novel 790 nm wavelength titanium-sapphire laser (TLT) compared with a 532 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser used in standard selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT).

Single institution prospective clinical trial of open-angle glaucoma patients randomized to TLT or SLT at the Yale Eye Center from 2011 to 2012. Patients with previous glaucoma surgery or trabeculoplasty were excluded. Trabeculoplasty was performed by a single surgeon unmasked to treatment group. All patients received 360 degrees of treatment. The main outcome measure was intraocular pressure (IOP) at 2 years.

Thirty-seven patients were enrolled. The mean baseline IOPs were 19.7 in TLT (n=18) and 20.4 mm Hg in SLT (n=19, P=0.69).At 2 years, the mean IOP was 12.9 mm Hg (35% decrease, P<0.001) in the TLT group and 15.4 mm Hg (25% decrease, P=0.006) in the SLT group. The 2 groups did not differ in glaucoma medication use. Success, defined as IOP<21 mm Hg with >20% reduction from baseline without the need for secondary glaucoma procedures, occurred in 44% of TLT patients and 61% of SLT patients at 1 year and in 22% of TLT patients and 46% of SLT patients at 2 years (P=0.11). No patients experienced significant pain, anterior chamber reaction, corneal edema, or loss of vision.

TLT may be a safe and effective alternative to SLT to lower IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma.