In focus: Research offers fresh thinking on glaucoma care

A landmark study into glaucoma treatment has opened up new possibilities for management of the disease.

Research by Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology showed that using a laser-based treatment called selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) on newly diagnosed cases of glaucoma was more successful and cost effective than administering eye drops, the current method used to lower intraocular pressure.

‘In this study, we have shown that a simple, safe, pain-free laser treatment not only works better than eye-drops at preventing glaucoma from deteriorating but also costs the NHS less,’ said Gus Gazzard (pictured), consultant ophthalmologist and glaucoma service director at Moorfields Eye Hospital, and reader in glaucoma studies at UCL.