Laser-1st vs Drops-1st for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Subjects are randomly allocated to one of two treatment arms that examine treatment pathways, rather than comparing single treatments alone: 'initial Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) followed by conventional medical therapy as required' ('Laser-1st') and 'medical therapy without laser ('Medicine-1st'). We compare quality of life in the two pathways (arms) over three years, while also examining the incremental cost and cost-effectiveness of Laser-1st versus Medicine-1st. A 'Treat in Pursuit of Control' design (TPC) compares two different routes to a pre-defined target Intraocular pressure (IOP) (pathways). It is a pragmatic study that uses published guidelines to make the complex clinical treatment choices faced in managing glaucoma, standardised between treatment arms by use of computer treatment algorithms. A UK National Institute for Health and care Excellence (NICE)-compliant evidence-based IOP Treatment Target 1 is set for each patient, according to the study treatment algorithms. They then proceed through stepped increments of treatment intensity (up to and including surgery) until a predetermined Target IOP is reached. Target IOP is reassessed in the light of objective clinical evidence of stability of glaucomatous optic neuropathy (GON) and visual function using visual field tests and automated optic nerve evaluation. Health Related Quality of Life (HRQL) and secondary outcomes are compared for patients in each pathway.