Is There a Role for SLT in Managing Steroid-Related OHT?
The effect of corticosteroids on IOP is well known to all clinicians. Whether the agents are dosed systemically, topically, or intraocularly, even the short-term use of steroids can significantly raise the IOP to levels that threaten the health of the optic nerve. The occurrence of steroid-related ocular hypertension (OHT) is unpredictable and can be unnerving, because the problem is entirely iatrogenic and often requires additional intervention for IOP management. For patients who need an immediate decrease in pressure, selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) may be an effective alternative to more invasive intervention. THE NEW REALITY OF STEROID-RELATED OHT Changes in practice patterns over the past decade or so have increased the frequency—and the severity—of steroid-related OHT. The intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide has become commonplace in the management of a variety of ocular conditions, ranging from macular degeneration to diabetic macular edema to posterior uvei
