Laser instead of eye drops: Freiburg ophthalmologist demonstrates effective treatment for glaucoma in Tanzania
Study led by the Eye Center - University of Freiburg Medical Center shows significantly improved glaucoma treatment with laser therapy / Publication on World Sight Day in the journal The Lancet Global Health
At least one billion people worldwide suffer from a visual impairment that limits their quality of life. Most of them live in low-income regions. One of the most common causes of serious visual impairment is glaucoma, also known as glaucoma. A research team led by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg's Department of Ophthalmology and the International Center for Eye Health in London has shown how its treatment can be significantly improved by laser therapy. The eye experts published the results in the journal The Lancet Global Health on World Sight Day on October 14, 2021.
In glaucoma, the circulation of the aqueous humor is disturbed. This increases the intraocular pressure and damages the cells of the optic nerve. In the long term, visual acuity and visual field decrease; without timely treatment, there is a risk of blindness. An international research team led by Dr. Heiko Philippin, senior consultant at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg's Department of Ophthalmology, investigated how treatment options for those affected in Africa can be improved. For the first time in Africa, they compared the effect of the locally frequently used Timolol eye drops with selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in a randomized controlled study. In this particularly gentle, low-risk laser therapy, the drainage of the aqueous humor is improved by targeted irradiation of certain pigment cells in the eye. The treatment only takes a few minutes and can be repeated several times if necessary. A total of 201 patients with glaucoma were assigned to one of the two treatment methods at the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi, Tanzania.
"We were able to show that laser therapy successfully reduced eye pressure in 61 percent of cases after one year. With eye drops, a comparable success was only achieved in 31 percent of cases," says Philippin. Side effects and complications were rare with both treatment methods. The preservation of visual function and quality of life as well as the acceptance of the treatment methods were also comparable. "Depending on the number of laser treatments carried out each year, this treatment could be offered at a similar cost to the provision of eye drops," says Philippin.
"With life expectancy increasing worldwide, age-related eye diseases such as glaucoma are also on the rise. This makes it all the more important to identify suitable treatment options worldwide," said Prof. Dr. Thomas Reinhard, Medical Director of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg's Department of Ophthalmology, confirming the relevance of the study results.
Original title of the study: Selective laser trabeculoplasty versus 0-5% timolol eye drops for the treatment of glaucoma in Tanzania: a randomized controlled trial
DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(21)00348-X
Link to the study:www.thelancet.com/journals/langlo/article/PIIS2214-109X(21)00348-X/fulltext
Funding for the study: Christoffel Blindenmission(www.cbm.org) and Seeing is Believing Innovation Fund, a cooperation between Standard Chartered Bank and the International Agency for Prevention of Blindness (IAPB).
Contact:
Dr. Heiko Philippin
Functional Senior Physician
Eye Center
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-40010
heiko.philippin@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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