Effect of topical anti-inflammatory treatment on the outcome of laser trabeculoplasty. The Fluorometholone-Laser Trabeculoplasty Study Group

PURPOSE: We investigated the effect of anti-inflammatory treatment on the outcome of argon laser trabeculoplasty. METHODS: In this multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel comparison study, 140 chronic open-angle glaucoma patients received either 0.25% fluorometholone or vehicle four times a day unilaterally, beginning 24 hours before and continuing one week after argon laser trabeculoplasty. The laser surgeon placed 50 to 60 burns over the inferior 180 degrees of the trabecular meshwork. The patients were followed up frequently for five weeks after the procedure. RESULTS: Following argon laser trabeculoplasty, signs of anterior chamber inflammation were significantly lower in the fluorometholone group. However, there was no significant difference between the fluorometholone and the vehicle groups in the incidence of increased intraocular pressure in the immediate post-argon laser trabeculoplasty period. Intraocular pressure decreased significantly in both groups from day 1 throughout the follow-up period. A significant between-group difference in intraocular pressure decrease was found only at week 5 (7.83 +/- 6.27 [S.D.] mm Hg for the fluorometholone group vs 6.63 +/- 5.79 mm Hg for the vehicle group, P = .046). No drug-related clinically significant adverse events were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Use of fluorometholone is effective in attenuating inflammation and has no clinically significant impact on the outcome of argon laser trabeculoplasty or on the incidence of intraocular pressure spikes during the immediate post-argon laser trabeculoplasty period.