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Spanish SLT Symposium Greek SLT Symposium German SLT Symposium Australian SLT User Group Meeting 22nd Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology AAD German SLT Symposium SLT: Today and Tomorrow UK User Group Meeting, May 2006 Among the many topics discussed by experienced, new, and potential SLT users were practical tips and insights for incorporating SLT into clinical practice. Dr. Madhu Nagar and her team at Wakefield Hospital, who have treated the majority of SLT patients in the UK, added important perspective to this discussion. For example, attendees learned that although SLT initially takes more time to perform than simply writing a prescription, it can actually decrease workload for physicians in cases where IOP fails to decrease with medication and multiple follow-up visits are required. When recruiting potential SLT patients, members agreed that a thorough understanding of the procedure and its benefits was essential to adoption. One member related the story of one of his patients, a 90-year-old man from Wakefield who was so pleased with the results of SLT after 20 years of eye drops that he offered to put the physician in his will! During the meeting, a list of frequently asked questions about SLT was compiled, and answers will be posted on the Ellex SLT website (scheduled for launch in September 2006). This list will be expanded and updated as Ellex holds more user group meetings worldwide. One of the final topics for the session concerned several scientific studies that are currently under way in the UK to help further the understanding of the mechanisms of SLT, as well as its benefits to patients. The general conclusions of this first user group meeting were that SLT works, reduces healthcare costs and is well accepted by patients. Australian User Group Meeting, July 2006 During the meeting, user group members with clinical experience ranging from one month to more than three years were able to discuss their clinical experiences and thoughts on SLT, including patient outcomes and SLT awareness. Dr. Ivan Goldberg, a clinical associate professor at the University of Sydney, chaired the meeting. Among the many topics discussed were treatment protocols. As they compared notes, user group members found that they all apply Iopidine and Alphagan. The majority of members commence treatment at 0.6 Š 0.7mJ energy, depending on the patientÕs pigmentation level, and increase the energy level in 1mJ increments until bubble formation is observed. Some members preferred to see cavitation bubbles all of the time, while others aimed for bubbles during 50 percent of treatment. About half follow the standard protocol of subthreshold, but more experienced users utilize higher energy settings. Members were interested in learning how high energy could be set before causing damage, with several indicating an unwillingness to go higher than 1.2mJ, even if there is no cavitation bubble formation. SLT outcomes were also discussed. Overall, the group agreed that SLT works for a number of varying patient requirements: as an effective treatment option for OAG patients, for controlling IOP, and for reducing existing medications and making new ones unnecessary. Several members were also curious about the efficacy of SLT as a primary treatment, and were eager to review further results. Dr. Goldberg advised them that SLT is like any laser trabeculoplasty procedure, in that it is best used for earlier glaucoma cases, compared to more advanced and complicated ones. Finally, the meeting attendees agreed that more patient education is required for the general public, and that the Ellex Value-Added SLT program will be a valuable resource to equip doctors with educational tools. Details about upcoming meetings of the newly formed user group will be communicated as they become available. |
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