Acceptance of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty as a First-Line Treatment for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma in Saudi Arabia.

purposeGlaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Early detection and timely treatment are crucial to reducing disease progression. Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) has proven efficacious as a primary treatment for primary open-angle glaucoma. This study aims to evaluate the acceptance among Saudi ophthalmologists of using SLT as a primary treatment for glaucoma.

methodsThis cross-sectional study enrolled 128 ophthalmologists practicing in Saudi Arabia. Data collection was conducted using a structured online questionnaire, which evaluated sociodemographic data, current glaucoma practice, the technology acceptance model (TAM), and potential barriers to incorporating SLT as the primary treatment for glaucoma.

resultsThe mean age of the participants was 40 ± 9.6 years, with 65.6% being male. Almost one-third were glaucoma specialists, and 89% followed the American Academy of Ophthalmology recommendations for managing glaucoma patients. The majority (96.1%) used medical treatment as the initial therapy, 72.7% agreed that SLT is safe, and 59.4% agreed that it rapidly controls intraocular pressure. Nearly half of the participants were willing to use SLT as the primary treatment, yet only 42.2% considered themselves experienced enough to do so. The most reported barriers were inadequate training (47.7%), non-availability of SLT equipment (41.4%), and low efficacy as reported by 27.3% of participants.

conclusionDespite the good overall acceptance of SLT as a first-line treatment for glaucoma, most participants still preferred medical therapy as the primary treatment. To overcome the barriers to incorporating SLT, Saudi ophthalmologists require more training and access to equipment to effectively implement this modality in their practices.