Researchers combined data from nine studies to look at how treating one eye with selective laser trabeculoplasty affects the other eye. The participants had primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. The main goal was to see if the intraocular pressure dropped in the untreated eye after the laser procedure was done on the first eye.
The analysis showed a statistically significant average pressure reduction of 1.85 mmHg in the untreated eye. Results were similar whether the laser covered 180 or 360 degrees of the treated eye. There was also a moderate positive correlation between pressure changes in both eyes, meaning they tended to move together.
No safety concerns or adverse events were reported in the studies included in this review. However, because this is a meta-analysis of observational data, a direct cause-and-effect relationship cannot be confirmed. Readers should understand that while the link is clear, the exact mechanism for the pressure drop in the second eye remains uncertain.
These findings may influence future studies and clinical practice, but they do not change current treatment guidelines. Patients should discuss any concerns about their specific eye health with their doctor rather than relying on this single piece of evidence.