The Laser in Pseudoexfoliation (LIP) Study

A number of large clinical trials have found pseudoexfoliation (PXF) to be a major risk factor for glaucoma progression and risk of blindness. It is estimated that PXF accounts for approximately a quarter of cases of open angle glaucoma in Nova Scotia, Canada, making this region an ideal setting for studying patients with this condition. Despite associated high morbidity, the treatment of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma remains suboptimal and a challenge for the clinician. Topical medical therapy is less effective than for primary open angle glaucoma and patients often require early surgical therapy, with associated risks. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) may be a safe and effective treatment for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma, although the evidence for this is presently lacking. The aim of the current study is to provide the first controlled-trial evidence for the effectiveness of SLT, compared to topical therapy, in the management of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.