SLT Laser FAQs for Patients

SLT or Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty is a quick, simple, bloodless, laser procedure with a high degree of success for lowering high intraocular pressure in the eye, which can be a sign or symptom of glaucoma. The procedure is an outpatient surgery, and patients can return to regular activities the same day.




Find the answer to these Frequently Asked Questions about SLT here.

• What is SLT?
• What are the advantages of SLT?
• How is SLT performed?
• Will I feel anything with the laser treatment?
• How often do I need to receive SLT treatments?
• How does SLT work?
• How do I know SLT has worked?
• Is SLT right for me?
• Are there other options available?
• Does SLT work for all types of Glaucoma?
• Will I still need to continue using my eyedrops following the SLT procedure?
• How long will I have to wait to experience the full treatment effect of the SLT laser?
• How long is the recovery time?
• What are the side effects?

Find the answer to these Frequently Asked Questions about SLT here at http://www.glaucomaslt.com/faqs

Find a physician who offers SLT here.

Doctors, rent an SLT Laser for the day.
Contact

Lauren Teton

LTeton@Option3.biz

Marketing Manager, Option3 LLC

Westchester County, NY

914 764-0115

SLT Technology is Changing How Surgeons Lower IOP

Paul Krawitz, MD of Huntington Eye Care Associates on Long Island was a twice-a-month customer of our Option3 LLC Mobile SLT Rental Service, and saw better results using SLT than ALT.  Here are excerpts from a recent article in
Ophthalmology Management.

Lumenis Laser Grows Surgical Repertoire
By Bill Kekevian, Senior Associate Editor
June 2013 Ophthalmology Management

Read the article here.

From the article

"He estimates that 90% of his patients are getting a meaningful lowering of IOP after the SLT procedure."
"The Lumenis has far exceeded our expectations," Dr. Krawitz says. Besides patients embracing the procedure, IOP control has also improved beyond what he anticipated.

Read the article here.


See Dr. Paul Krawitz in video here

"Dr. Paul Krawitz discusses the benefits and results of SLT rather than eyedrops for glaucoma" (video)

4:34 "In new glaucoma patients, when given both options, drops, vs. laser, and presented with the evidence, nearly 100% of my patients are opting for SLT."

See Dr. Paul Krawitz in video here

Use SLT in your office with a daily rental. Contact us here. 

SLT Laser Testimonial for Glaucoma Treatment - Patient Video Testimonial

SLT Laser Patient Testimonial - Patient is Very Pleased

Barry Margolin is a patient who is very pleased after having one eye treated with SLT Laser. He says "it is a very worthwhile procedure, virtually painless very quick recovery, nothing invasive, no concern as to pain or additional medications, and almost immediate positive effect. I dropped at least 4 points in one eye, and I should be on the path to getting off drops completely."
Dr. Meredith Prevor-Weiss of performed the procedure using the Lumenis Selecta II SLT laser, working with the Option3 LLC SLT laser in Westchester County, NY.  http://option3.biz

SLT Laser Patient Testimonial - Improved Visual Field says Patient

SLT Laser - Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Glaucoma treatment was performed on this patient 6 weeks earlier on both eyes and his intraocular pressure had dropped from 18 and 19 mm Hg to 13 in both eyes. The patient is happy with the procedure and says that using his own vision measurement, his field of vision has also improved.

Dr. Meredith Prevor-Weiss performed the procedures using the Lumenis Selecta II SLT laser, working with the Option3 LLC SLT laser in Westchester County, NY. http://option3.biz/


For SLT Laser contact Lauren Traub Teton, 
For videos contact RealPeopleMarketing. 
914 764-0115 in NY.

Reducing Intraocular Pressure by Eliminating Wheat from the Diet?

I was scrolling through comments on the Wheat Belly Blog, because I have been off wheat for years and it has been very positive for me. Now another family member is exploring a wheat-free diet to ameliorate stomach pain, with success. I came across this question about Glaucoma and possible benefits of a wheat free diet to reduce intraocular pressure in the eye. Although it sounds strange, there could be something to it. Wheat can cause inflammation, and inflammation may be behind the increased eye pressure that can be a symptom of Glaucoma. The reader said her dad had Lasik surgery to reduce the pressure, and I suggested that instead perhaps it was SLT or ALT laser treatment. Read it below.

Debbie Micev says:
 

November 16, 2012 at 10:31 pm

I just read your book and sent a copy to my parents. In just a few weeks I’ve lost 8 pounds and my hunger has changed from insatiable to mild. I’ve also told a number of my friends about your research.
I didn’t see a section for eye problems, but I was wondering if you had any information about the effect of wheat on glaucoma or increased pressure behind the eye. My dad recently had lasik surgery to relieve the pressure and it didn’t seem to work. I am concerned about him.


Response by Lauren Teton, Marketing Manager of Option3 SLT Laser Service: 
See an interview with an SLT patient who tells about the procedure.

Hi Debbie Micev, (November 16, 2012)
I was reading this forum because I have been off wheat for many years and it has changed my life so much for the better. I got off wheat because my chiropractor said my knee pain was from wheat inflammation. Of course I said "NO WAY" but years later I am lighter, fitter, and have no knee pain since cuttign out the wheat (now mostly off dairy too!)

Anyway,  I'm writing to you because I also happen to be in the Glaucoma Laser business. I am pretty sure the laser your Dad had was SLT laser, not Lasik.

SLT laser uses gentle cold laser energy to create a biologic response to help reduce elevated intraocular pressure, and in the majority of cases it does work. In other words, it stimulates the body's defense system to help clean out the clogged "drain" in the eye, so the fluid can flow and the pressure can go down. It can be used instead of or with eye drops, and sometimes helps patients reduce or get off the drops completely.
Or your Dad may have had the older, hot laser "ALT" procedure.

Just wanted you to know!!
Lauren Teton
Option3 SLT Laser Center
New York and the Northeast US


See an interview with an SLT patient who tells about the procedure.

SLT Laser Testimonials for Option3 LLC

I've been having good results with SLT. Patients are dong better than expected. I don't need to purchase an SLT when we can rent the laser easily from Option3 Mobile Laser Service each month. Alexander Hatsis, MD Hatsis Laser Vision Rockville Center, NY I have been scheduling monthly laser sessions with Bob and Dana. The SLT service has been extremely convenient for both my practice and my patients. The business model makes great economic sense, allowing me to have the laser in my office only when I need it, and to pay for it only when I use it. I highly recommend Option3. Ayman Z. Matta, MD, FACS Langerman Matta Eye Institute I have been quite impressed with the high quality professional service Option3 has consistently provided. I especially like their sliding scale payment system which allows me to build profitability without a large capital outlay. Our patients are pleased with the comfort and results of their SLT procedure. Cathy Liggieri, COA Clinical director Langerman Matta Eye Institute Orangeburg, NY I highly recommend Option3’s mobile laser service for their professionalism, state of the art equipment, punctuality and service. I can now offer SLT to my patients in the convenience of my office on a monthly basis. Norman Reinach, MD New Hyde Park, NY Option3’s mobile laser service allows me to provide this procedure to my patients without having to purchase another expensive piece of equipment. The non-invasive SLT procedure is quick, comfortable for patients, and eliminates patient non-compliance issues. SLT reduces operator variability, as well as giving more consistent results compared to ALT. Robert Block, MD Fichman Eye Center Manchester, CT Option3’s Mobile SLT laser service is a cost effective way of providing advanced technology to single or dual practitioner offices that might not have the patient volume to justify a purchase. SLT is proven to be quite effective, convenient, and economical for glaucoma patients, often allowing them to remove one or more medications from their armamentarium. Todd Bragin, MD Hewlett, NY The larger target that the SLT presents allows for more rapid and accurate placement of the laser aiming spots. The older ALT process may be slightly more painful to patients and less forgiving in aiming, for marginal angles. And it's not repeatable like SLT. I also enjoy working with Lauren and Dana at Option3. Edward Palmer, MD Palmer Eye Care and Laser Center Bronx, NY

10 Quick Points Regarding SLT - Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

Ten Quick Key Points Regarding SLT
by Brian A. Francis, M.D., M.S

In the ten years since the FDA approval of selective laser trabeculoplasty for the treatment of open-angle glaucomas, the 10 unique features that have emerged are:

1. Selectivity and minimal tissue damage of target tissue,
2. Mechanism of action of increasing trabecular aqueous outflow facility,
3. Efficacy equal to that of the most potent class of glaucoma medications,
4. Excellent safety and side effect profile,
5. Ability to improve patient compliance,
6. Ability to decrease patient cost of treatment as well as societal economic burden of glaucoma treatment,
7. Success as an adjunctive treatment in patients who have failed medical or prior laser therapy,
8. Reduction of glaucoma medications in patients with medically controlled IOP (replacement therapy),
9. Reduction in diurnal IOP fluctuation, and
10. Repeatability of SLT in previously treated patients.

From the article "Ten Years of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty" by Brian A. Francis, M.D., M.S., Associate Professor of Ophthalmology at the Doheny Eye Institute, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California.
Posted Tuesday, October 04, 2011 at
http://www.ophthalmologyweb.com/1319-AuthorProfile/1313-Brian-A-Francis-M-D-M-S/

**************************************************************

The Lumenis SLT Laser is available to ophthalmologists as a short- term laser rental.

Visit www.Option3.Biz

or call

Lauren Teton

Marketing Manager Option3 LLC

Westchester County, NY

914 764-0115

Ten Years of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty

Brian A. Francis, M.D., M.S. 

Tuesday, October 04, 2011  

This is a condensed version of the full article which can be seen here.

Ten Key Points Regarding SLT

In the ten years since the FDA approval of selective laser trabeculoplasty for the treatment of open-angle glaucomas, the 10 unique features that have emerged are: 1) selectivity and minimal tissue damage of target tissue, 2) mechanism of action of increasing trabecular aqueous outflow facility, 3) efficacy equal to that of the most potent class of glaucoma medications, 4) excellent safety and side effect profile, 5) ability to improve patient compliance, 6) ability to decrease patient cost of treatment as well as societal economic burden of glaucoma treatment, 7) success as an adjunctive treatment in patients who have failed medical or prior laser therapy, 8) reduction of glaucoma medications in patients with medically controlled IOP (replacement therapy), 9) reduction in diurnal IOP fluctuation, and 10) repeatability of SLT in previously treated patients.

1. Selectivity and Minimal Damage of Target Tissue

"The pulse duration is very short, so it’s below the thermal relaxation time and there is really no appreciable heating occurring in the cells that are targeted" says Dr. Robert Noecker who published some of the original histological comparisons of ALT and SLT,

2.  Mechanism of Action: Trabecular Outflow

Laser trabeculoplasty is one of the few glaucoma treatments that address the key problem in open-angle glaucomas: decreased trabecular outflow facility. There are several theories of how it exerts this effect, but it is agreed that this is a biologic response.

3. Clinical Efficacy of SLT

SLT is quite effective as primary or adjunctive treatment to lower IOP. Many clinical trials have shown an IOP reduction of approximately 30%, and demonstrate equality to the most potent class of glaucoma medical therapy: prostaglandin analogues.

4. Minimal Side Effects and Excellent Risk Profile

One key aspect of SLT is a favorable side-effect profile, even when compared with glaucoma medications. Most experts agree that a lower power level (barely enough to elicit cavitation bubbles 50% of the time or less) with more treatment spots (up to 200) gives the best ratio of efficacy to side effects. In patients with excessive angle pigmentation such as pigment dispersion glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, much lower powers are used and the treatment can be performed segmentally.

Dr. Frank Howes had several comments related to side effects of medications compared to SLT. “As ophthalmologists I think we tend to forget the rare but potentially serious systemic risks of some glaucoma medications such as reduced cardiac and pulmonary function. In addition, ocular surface disease is a real issue with topical therapy. I think with SLT there is a diminishment of conjunctival scarring by the regular use of this modality as opposed to a treatment (medications) that you’re putting a toxin onto the surface of the eye. From the moment patients use it, you are beginning a scarring crisis. With SLT, then, we’re increasing the chance of surgical success. The patients see better and they get less corneal disease: It’s a positive benefit cycle.”

5. Eliminate Compliance Issues

While medical therapy for glaucoma is quite effective, it still relies on the regular and proper administration of the drug to achieve its effect. The use of SLT gives 100% compliance: The physician performs the treatment and knows whether it is effective or not without wondering if glaucoma therapy is being applied correctly.

Dr. Jay Katz notes, “I think you can make a strong argument in favor of primary therapy with SLT because we know what a huge problem there is with adherence to medical therapy. The best assumption we have out there is that 50% of our patients are truly compliant with medical therapy.”

6. Favorable Individual and Societal Cost Profile

"If you’re picking up a treatment that is cost effective to roll out in a supervised fashion at a triage level to a much larger volume of patients, and if you’re going to prevent those patients from entering into the dependency sector for their needs with blindness at an earlier stage, that’s worth billions to the economy"
says Dr. Kate Coleman, Head of the African Multicenter Glaucoma Study and African Glaucoma SLT Trial.

7. Effectiveness of SLT as Adjunctive Treatment

SLT is also useful as an adjunct to medical therapy and prior failed argon laser trabeculoplasty. Those groups of patients who are uncontrolled despite medical and possibly prior laser therapy are the most challenging, and are often being considered for glaucoma filtration surgery.

Dr. Mark Latina, the inventor of SLT and primary investigator in the pivotal trial, discussed the patients treated in this initial clinical study.7 “We enrolled two groups of patients: both with uncontrolled IOP on maximally tolerated medical therapy, but the second also with prior failed ALT. Even in these patients with glaucoma refractory to medical and laser therapy, the results did show that there was about a 65 percent success rate in both groups. Based on those results, we feel that SLT is a viable alternative in patients who have had prior argon laser trabeculoplasty and those that have failed medical therapy.”

8. Replacing Medical Treatment

The typical glaucoma practice consists of treatment naïve patients, those uncontrolled with medical therapy, and the majority group of those controlled with medical therapy. SLT can be used in this latter group as a replacement therapy to reduce dependence on medications.

According to Dr. Rob Noecker, “Even glaucoma patients who have good IOP on medications are candidates for SLT. The concept of medical substitution was explored in an early paper by Francis and colleagues.11 The laser may be useful in getting patients off of drops. Even if the IOP is controlled, you’re trying to improve quality of life both economically or with regards to side effects.”

9. Reducing IOP Fluctuation
As shown in sleep studies by Weinreb, selective laser trabeculoplasty may help to limit the IOP fluctuation that can lead to progressive optic nerve damage and vision loss.

10. Repeatability of SLT
The ability to repeat the laser sets SLT apart from ALT and increases its usefulness in the lifetime treatment of a glaucoma patient.

**************************************************************

The Lumenis SLT Laser is available to ophthalmologists as a laser rental by the day.

Visit www.Option3.Biz

or call

Lauren Teton

Marketing Manager, Option3 LLC

Westchester County, NY

914 764-0115