Selective laser trabeculoplasty lowered the untreated fellow eye long-term intraocular pressure: a 3-year observational study

24-Hour efficacy of single primary selective laser trabeculoplasty versus latanoprost eye drops for Naïve primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension patients

This prospective, observer-masked, randomized clinical trial was conducted between December 2018 and June 2021 at Eye Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. A total of 45 glaucoma patients from Beijing, China, were enrolled in this clinical trial to compare the short-term efficacy of primary single-selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) to 0.005% latanoprost eye drops for the treatment of 24-h intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with newly diagnosed primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). Both SLT and latanoprost significantly decreased mean 24-h IOP and peak IOP, although the latanoprost group effect was more potent when compared to the SLT group (both Ps < 0.05). Compared with the SLT group, the latanoprost group had a significant and stable decrease in IOP after treatment. The latanoprost group had a more pronounced reduction in IOP at weeks 4 and 12 (P < 0.05) but had no difference at week 1 (P = 0.097). As a first-line treatment, both SLT and latanoprost eye drops are effective in newly diagnosed POAG and OHT patients. However, the latanoprost eye drops may be better in decreasing mean and peak 24-h IOP and thus controlling 24-h IOP fluctuation compared to SLT.

Short-Term Effect of Micropulse Transscleral Laser Therapy on Intraocular Pressure in Untreated Fellow Eyes of Glaucoma Patients: Preliminary Results

It has been observed that an intraocular pressure (IOP) altering intervention in one eye is followed by a consensual response in the untreated fellow eye. The underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Involvement of neuronal, cytokine, and hormonal regulation of aqueous humor dynamics, as well as improved treatment adherence or systemic absorption of topically administered medical compounds, have been suggested. Our aim was to investigate the short-term effects of unilateral micropulse transscleral laser therapy on IOP in the fellow eye. All medical records of glaucoma patients who underwent micropulse transscleral laser therapy in a tertiary referral center between May 2019 and February 2023 were collected and analyzed. We found a significant reduction in IOP in the treated eyes, indicating successful treatment. In the fellow eyes, despite not having changed any of the pharmacological IOP-reducing therapies, a significant reduction in IOP from 17.0 ± 5.1 mmHg to 13.5 ± 4.4 mmHg (p < 0.01) was observed. This reduction was, however, short-term and reached statistical significance on the first postoperative day only. Our findings support the concept of consensual inter-eye responses to unilateral IOP changes. Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon.

Dermabrasion combined with photodynamic therapy: a new option for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer

Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is the most common malignancy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective for the treatment of certain NMSCs. However, the clinical response rates of some NMSCs to single PDT are still far from ideal. The reason may be that PDT has shown limited efficacy in managing thicker NMSCs. To explore the efficacy and safety of dermabrasion combined with PDT (D-PDT) for the treatment of NMSCs. This was a retrospective, single-arm, multi-centre study. In total, 172 tumours from 40 patients were treated with D-PDT during the study period. The mean follow-up period was 40 months (range 15-110 months). D-PDT was performed with 633-nm red light at 80 m W/cm² after lesion dermabrasion and 4 h of photosensitizer exposure. Six nodular basal cell carcinomas (nBCCs) from 6 patients, 9 squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) from 9 patients, 17 Bowen diseases (BDs) from 10 patients and 140 actinic keratoses (AKs) from 15 patients treated with D-PDT were examined in this study. Only two patients with three AKs experienced recurrence over 12 months. The mean final follow-up periods of patients with AKs, BDs, nBCCs and SCCs were 30, 33, 45 and 60 months, respectively. Thirty-four of the 40 patients treated with D-PDT reported excellent or good cosmetic results. The mean Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) scores of the patients improved significantly after treatment (estimated MD 9.72 [95% CI 8.69 to 10.75]; p < 0.001). D-PDT is a safe, cosmetic and effective treatment that could be a new candidate therapeutic for NMSC.