March 10-16 marks World Glaucoma Week 2024, a global initiative to raise awareness of glaucoma, one of the leading causes of sight loss. Today, we're highlighing direct selective laser trabeculoplasty (DSLT), a method of treating glaucoma.
Following a major landmark study at Moorfields into laser treatment, National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) guidelines for treating glaucoma were revised to recommend laser trabeculoplasty as a first-line therapy over eye drops. Laser treatment can help drain fluid in the eye, reducing pressure.
Moorfields continues to innovate in glaucoma treatment. To help tackle this increase in demand for laser treatment, we have installed a DSLT laser, which is non-contact and automated, which we are currently auditing.
“I’ve high hopes that this will not only allow us to rapidly expand the number of SLT patients we can treat and cut waiting times, but will also be more comfortable for the patients,” said Gus Gazzard, consultant ophthalmic surgeon and director of surgery at Moorfields Eye Hospital.
Since its install, we have since treated over 30 patients using DSLT. One patient who has been able to benefit from DSLT is Natalie, an emergency response worker who has been working in Ukraine. She is severely allergic to almost all eye drops, including local anaesthetics. This means she has been unable to treat her glaucoma with the use of eye drops to lower pressure in her eye, or use conventional laser surgery that would require local anaesthetic.
Happily, using DSLT, we were able to successfully treat Natalie’s glaucoma without drops or anaesthesia.
14 March 2024