NCT03365778

Educational Intervention to Adopt SLT as First-Line Glaucoma Treatment

An Educational Intervention to Increase Adoption of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as First-Line Treatment for Glaucoma

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 86 (actual)
• Sponsor: Wills Eye · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 40 Years – 90 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The purpose of this study is to develop an educational program that will help improve the patients' understanding of what laser treatment is, how it might be beneficial to them, and why it should be the first eye pressure lowering glaucoma treatment to consider before the use of glaucoma eye drops.

Detailed description

Glaucoma is a disease characterized by optic nerve damage, visual field defects, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and progressive vision loss. More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma and more than 150,000 are blind as a result. Regular use of glaucoma medications can usually lower intraocular pressure (IOP), prevent disease progression, preserve vision and prevent blindness. However, many people with glaucoma do not always use their medication as directed, with about one-third to one-half of patients with glaucoma not taking their drops as often as necessary, or have difficulty putting in the drops. There are also numerous local side effects from using glaucoma eye drops including red eyes, blurry vision and dry eye symptoms. Systemic side effects from eye drops range from triggering asthma, to lethargy and depression. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has been used safely and effectively for the treatment of elevated IOP in patients with open angle glaucoma for more than 20 years. SLT may result in mild and temporary IOP elevation, but this is a small risk and rarely significant. Other side effects include blurred vison and inflammation of the cornea (front, clear part of the eye), but they are extremely rare. The purpose of this study is to develop an educational program that will help improve the patients' understanding of what laser treatment is, how it might be beneficial to them, and why it should be considered as first glaucoma treatment before the use of glaucoma eye drops.

Conditions

• Primary Open-angle Glaucoma

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Patient Educational Intervention	Patients will respond to 5 questions regarding selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) versus topical medication to lower eye pressure. Then they will receive educational materials including 20 printed slides and view a 3 minute video on safety and efficacy of SLT. If patients agree to SLT, assistance in scheduling will be provided.
OTHER	Usual Care	Patients will respond to 5 questions regarding selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) versus topical medication to lower eye pressure. No other guidance will be provided.
OTHER	Ophthalmologist Educational Intervention	Responses to online survey regarding beliefs and attitudes towards selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) before and after educational slide presentation were recorded and compared between physician specialty groups.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-10-23
• Primary completion: 2018-12-01
• Completion: 2019-12-31
• First posted: 2017-12-07
• Last updated: 2020-01-30
• Results posted: 2020-01-30

Locations

1 site across 1 country: United States