Retina Clinic London introduces contact-free glaucoma laser treatment

The Retina Clinic London has become the first private clinic in central London to offer Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) using the Alcon Voyager platform for the treatment of glaucoma.

The technology provides a contact-free alternative to conventional selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT), using automated eye tracking and computer-guided laser delivery to lower intraocular pressure by improving fluid drainage from the eye.

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. The clinic said DSLT could help suitable patients reduce their reliance on long-term glaucoma eye drops while avoiding invasive surgery.

Unlike conventional SLT, the Alcon Voyager platform does not require a contact lens to be placed on the eye during treatment. The laser is delivered through the limbus using 120 computer-guided pulses targeting the trabecular meshwork, with the procedure taking only a few seconds per eye.

The Retina Clinic cited results from the GLAUrious study, which found that 62% of patients treated with Voyager DSLT remained medication-free 12 months after treatment, while 81% required the same or fewer glaucoma medications than before the procedure.

Professor Paulo Eduardo Stanga, founder and chief medical officer of The Retina Clinic London, said the introduction of the technology represented ‘another important step forward in the treatment of glaucoma’.

‘For suitable patients, DSLT offers an opportunity to reduce dependence on daily glaucoma medication while helping to preserve vision over the long term,’ he said.

The treatment will be offered as part of the clinic’s consultant-led glaucoma service, with patients undergoing diagnostic assessment to determine whether DSLT is appropriate for their condition before follow-up around 10 to 12 weeks after treatment to assess their response.