CClinicalTrials.gg
Not yet recruitingNCT06498440CES-NSLTUpdated Jul 12, 2024

Efficacy of NSAID vs. Steroid-NSAID Combo Post-Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: Phase 4, Single-Center RCT

A Phase 4 interventional study of Ketorolac 0.5% Eye Drops and Ketorolac 0.5% and Fluorometholone 0.1% Eye Drops in Open Angle Glaucoma, Ocular Hypertension and Postoperative Inflammation, sponsored by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-07-12.

Sponsored by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Primary completion was expected by Jul 2025, 1 year 3 months ago, but the record still lists the study as not yet recruiting.
Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
126
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

This clinical trial, led by Dr. Enitan A. Sogbesan at the Hamilton Regional Eye Clinic, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, aims to compare the efficacy and safety of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketorolac alone versus a combination of ketorolac and the corticosteroid fluorometholone, and a control group receiving no postoperative treatment. The trial will evaluate these treatment strategies following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) in patients with open-angle glaucoma. The primary objective is to determine the most effective postoperative management strategy to reduce inflammation, improve patient comfort, and control intraocular pressure (IOP). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of the three groups, with follow-up visits scheduled at 1 hour, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, and 1 year post-SLT. The study's findings aim to guide clinicians in optimizing postoperative care for better patient outcomes.

Read the detailed description

Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a widely used procedure introduced by Latina and Park in 1995 for the management of various forms of glaucoma, including open-angle glaucoma (OAG), pigmentary glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation glaucoma, and ocular hypertension. SLT helps prevent irreversible blindness by effectively managing these conditions. However, postoperative management strategies vary among practitioners, with some prescribing NSAIDs, a combination of NSAIDs and steroids, or no treatment at all. There is no consensus on the most effective and safest approach.

This phase 4 single-centre randomized controlled trial seeks to address this knowledge gap by comparing the postoperative effects of ketorolac alone, a combination of ketorolac and fluorometholone, and a no treatment control group on inflammation and patient comfort following SLT. The hypothesis is that treatment with ketorolac alone or in combination with fluorometholone will show superior results in reducing inflammation and improving patient comfort compared to no treatment.

The study will enroll patients undergoing SLT at the Hamilton Regional Eye Clinic. Participants will be randomized into either one of two treatment groups or one control group (no treatment) and monitored for changes in IOP, visual acuity, patient comfort, and the occurrence of any complications over a one-year period. Data collected from these assessments will be analyzed to determine the comparative efficacy and safety of the three strategies.

Inclusion criteria include adults diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma, IOP greater than 16 mmHg, and visual acuity of 20/200 or better. Exclusion criteria include recent ocular surgeries, allergies to ketorolac or fluorometholone, and pregnancy. The primary outcome measure is the change in IOP from baseline, while secondary outcomes include visual acuity, anterior chamber inflammation, and patient-reported discomfort.

The trial follows CONSORT guidelines to maintain transparency and reproducibility. Ethical approval will be obtained from the Hamilton Integrated Research Ethics Board (HiREB), ensuring compliance with ethical and legal requirements.

The results of this study will inform postoperative care decisions following SLT, potentially leading to improved patient outcomes and satisfaction. This trial also aims to contribute to a more standardized postoperative management protocol for SLT, enhancing clinical practice and patient care in glaucoma treatment.

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Conditions studied

  • Open Angle Glaucoma
  • Ocular Hypertension
  • Postoperative Inflammation

Keywords

  • Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT)
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
  • Ketorolac
  • Fluorometholone
  • Postoperative care
  • Intraocular pressure (IOP)
  • Visual acuity
  • Glaucoma treatment
  • Ophthalmology
  • Randomized controlled trial (RCT)
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In context

Glaucoma

1,818 studies on the registry are indexed under Glaucoma; 231 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 126 is above the median of 65 across 1,272 interventional studies indexed under Glaucoma.

Browse Glaucoma studies →

Lead sponsor

St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton is the lead sponsor of 137 studies on the registry; 31 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults aged 18 years and older.
  • Diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma.
  • Intraocular pressure (IOP) greater than 16 mmHg on at least two consecutive occasions separated by one month.
  • Visual acuity of 20/200 or better in at least one eye.
  • Provided informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with any other ocular disorders or surgeries within the last six months.
  • Allergy or intolerance to ketorolac or fluorometholone.
  • Previous use of systemic ketorolac or fluorometholone in the past month.
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  • Patients who are unable to speak/understand English.
  • Any condition that in the investigator's opinion would make participation not in the best interest of the patient or could prevent, limit, or confound the protocol-specified assessments.
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Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
Single (Outcomes assessor)
Enrollment
126 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Ketorolac Alone

    Participants in this arm will receive ketorolac 0.5% eye drops administered twice daily for one week following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that helps reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. The purpose of this intervention is to assess the efficacy and safety of ketorolac alone in managing postoperative inflammation and patient comfort compared to other treatment strategies.

    Drug: Ketorolac 0.5% Eye Drops

  • Experimental
    Ketorolac with Fluorometholone

    Participants in this arm will receive a combination of ketorolac 0.5% eye drops administered twice daily and fluorometholone 0.1% eye drops administered four times daily for one week following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). Fluorometholone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation by stabilizing capillary permeability and inhibiting inflammatory cell activation. This arm aims to evaluate the combined efficacy and safety of ketorolac and fluorometholone in postoperative care.

    Drug: Ketorolac 0.5% and Fluorometholone 0.1% Eye Drops

  • No intervention
    No Treatment Control

    Participants in this arm will not receive any postoperative treatment following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). This control group is included to provide a baseline for comparison against the treatment groups receiving ketorolac alone or a combination of ketorolac and fluorometholone. The purpose is to assess the natural course of postoperative inflammation and patient comfort without intervention.

Interventions

  • DrugKetorolac 0.5% Eye Drops

    Participants in this arm will receive ketorolac 0.5% eye drops, administered twice daily for one week following Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). Ketorolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that works by inhibiting cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, which play a key role in the inflammatory process. This intervention aims to reduce postoperative inflammation and pain, promoting patient comfort and potentially improving outcomes following SLT.

    Also known as: Acular, Acular LS, Acuvail

  • DrugKetorolac 0.5% and Fluorometholone 0.1% Eye Drops

    Participants in this arm will receive a combination of ketorolac 0.5% eye drops and fluorometholone 0.1% eye drops. Ketorolac will be administered twice daily and fluorometholone four times daily for one week following SLT. Fluorometholone is a corticosteroid that reduces inflammation by stabilizing capillary permeability and inhibiting inflammatory cell activation. The combination aims to maximize anti-inflammatory effects and enhance patient comfort, potentially leading to better postoperative outcomes compared to ketorolac alone or no treatment.

    Also known as: FML, Acular, Acuvail, Fluor-Op

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Intraocular Pressure (IOP) from Baseline

    The primary outcome measure is the mean change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to 1 year post-Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (SLT). IOP will be measured using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) at each follow-up visit. The baseline IOP is determined as the average of measurements taken on the day of SLT booking and on the day of the SLT procedure. The primary objective is to compare the effectiveness of ketorolac alone, ketorolac with fluorometholone, and no treatment in reducing IOP following SLT.

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 year post-SLT

Secondary outcomes

  1. Visual Acuity

    Visual acuity will be measured using a Snellen chart and reported in logMAR units at each follow-up visit. The study will compare changes in visual acuity among the three treatment groups to determine the impact of each postoperative strategy on visual function.

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 year post-SLT

  2. Anterior Chamber Inflammation

    Anterior chamber inflammation will be assessed using the Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group grading system. The presence and severity of cells and flare in the anterior chamber will be evaluated at each follow-up visit to compare the anti-inflammatory effects of the treatment strategies.

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 year post-SLT

  3. Patient-Reported Discomfort

    Patient discomfort will be recorded at each follow-up visit. Participants will rate their discomfort on a scale, allowing for comparison of patient comfort levels across the three treatment groups.

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 year post-SLT

  4. Incidence of Postoperative Complications

    The incidence of postoperative complications, such as ocular discomfort, conjunctival hyperemia, and corneal abrasions, will be recorded at each follow-up visit. This measure will help determine the safety profile of ketorolac alone, ketorolac with fluorometholone, and no treatment following SLT.

    Time frame: Baseline to 1 year post-SLT

07

Study locations

1 site
  • St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton, Hamilton Regional Eye Institute
    Hamilton, Ontario L8G 4X3, Canada
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References and documents

Publications

  • Canadian Ophthalmological Society Glaucoma Clinical Practice Guideline Expert Committee; Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Canadian Ophthalmological Society evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the management of glaucoma in the adult eye. Can J Ophthalmol. 2009;44 Suppl 1:S7-93. doi: 10.3129/cjo44s1. No abstract available. Erratum In: Can J Ophthalmol. 2009 Aug;44(4):477. English, French. PubMed 19492005 ↗
  • Foster PJ, Buhrmann R, Quigley HA, Johnson GJ. The definition and classification of glaucoma in prevalence surveys. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002 Feb;86(2):238-42. doi: 10.1136/bjo.86.2.238. PubMed 11815354 ↗
  • Zhang N, Wang J, Li Y, Jiang B. Prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in the last 20 years: a meta-analysis and systematic review. Sci Rep. 2021 Jul 2;11(1):13762. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92971-w. PubMed 34215769 ↗
  • Farkouh A, Frigo P, Czejka M. Systemic side effects of eye drops: a pharmacokinetic perspective. Clin Ophthalmol. 2016 Dec 7;10:2433-2441. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S118409. eCollection 2016. PubMed 27994437 ↗
  • Macsai, M., & Mojica, G. (2013). Medical Management of Ocular Surface Disease. In E. J. Holland, M. J. Mannis, & W. B. Lee (Eds.), Ocular Surface Disease: Cornea, Conjunctiva and Tear Film (pp. 271-281). W.B. Saunders. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-1-4557-2876-3.00034-1
  • Mahmoodi AN, Patel P, Kim PY. Ketorolac. 2024 Feb 28. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545172/ PubMed 31424756 ↗
  • Shin DH, Frenkel RE, David R, Cheetham JK. Effect of topical anti-inflammatory treatment on the outcome of laser trabeculoplasty. The Fluorometholone-Laser Trabeculoplasty Study Group. Am J Ophthalmol. 1996 Sep;122(3):349-54. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(14)72061-6. PubMed 8794707 ↗
  • Realini T, Charlton J, Hettlinger M. The impact of anti-inflammatory therapy on intraocular pressure reduction following selective laser trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers Imaging. 2010 Jan-Feb;41(1):100-3. doi: 10.3928/15428877-20091230-18. PubMed 20128578 ↗
  • Mermoud A, Pittet N, Herbort CP. Inflammation patterns after laser trabeculoplasty measured with the laser flare meter. Arch Ophthalmol. 1992 Mar;110(3):368-70. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1992.01080150066030. PubMed 1543456 ↗
  • Herbort CP, Mermoud A, Schnyder C, Pittet N. Anti-inflammatory effect of diclofenac drops after argon laser trabeculoplasty. Arch Ophthalmol. 1993 Apr;111(4):481-3. doi: 10.1001/archopht.1993.01090040073033. PubMed 8470978 ↗
  • Rebenitsch RL, Brown EN, Binder NR, Jani A, Bonham AJ, Krishna R, Pikey K. Effect of topical loteprednol on intraocular pressure after selective laser trabeculoplasty for open-angle glaucoma. Ophthalmol Ther. 2013 Dec;2(2):113-20. doi: 10.1007/s40123-013-0018-z. Epub 2013 Aug 31. PubMed 25135811 ↗
  • Kim YY, Glover BK, Shin DH, Lee D, Frenkel RE, Abreu MM. Effect of topical anti-inflammatory treatment on the long-term outcome of laser trabeculoplasty. Fluorometholone-Laser Trabeculoplasty Study Group. Am J Ophthalmol. 1998 Nov;126(5):721-3. doi: 10.1016/s0002-9394(98)00177-9. PubMed 9822239 ↗
  • Gracner T. Impact of Short-Term Topical Steroid Therapy on Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Efficacy. J Clin Med. 2021 Sep 19;10(18):4249. doi: 10.3390/jcm10184249. PubMed 34575360 ↗
  • Dahlgren T, Ayala M, Zetterberg M. The impact of topical NSAID treatment on selective laser trabeculoplasty efficacy. Acta Ophthalmol. 2023 May;101(3):266-276. doi: 10.1111/aos.15276. Epub 2022 Oct 18. PubMed 36259097 ↗
  • Chen YS, Hung HT, Guo SP, Chang HC. Effects of anti-inflammatory treatment on efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Dec;14(12):1527-1534. doi: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1981860. Epub 2021 Sep 24. PubMed 34524035 ↗
  • Jinapriya D, D'Souza M, Hollands H, El-Defrawy SR, Irrcher I, Smallman D, Farmer JP, Cheung J, Urton T, Day A, Sun X, Campbell RJ. Anti-inflammatory therapy after selective laser trabeculoplasty: a randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Ophthalmology. 2014 Dec;121(12):2356-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2014.07.017. Epub 2014 Sep 16. PubMed 25234015 ↗
  • De Keyser M, De Belder M, De Groot V. Randomized Prospective Study of the Use of Anti-Inflammatory Drops After Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. J Glaucoma. 2017 Feb;26(2):e22-e29. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000000522. PubMed 27552500 ↗
  • Polat J, Grantham L, Mitchell K, Realini T. Repeatability of selective laser trabeculoplasty. Br J Ophthalmol. 2016 Oct;100(10):1437-41. doi: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-307486. Epub 2016 Feb 1. PubMed 26834070 ↗
  • Avery N, Ang GS, Nicholas S, Wells A. Repeatability of primary selective laser trabeculoplasty in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Int Ophthalmol. 2013 Oct;33(5):501-6. doi: 10.1007/s10792-013-9729-3. Epub 2013 Jan 31. PubMed 23371484 ↗
  • Kramer TR, Noecker RJ. Comparison of the morphologic changes after selective laser trabeculoplasty and argon laser trabeculoplasty in human eye bank eyes. Ophthalmology. 2001 Apr;108(4):773-9. doi: 10.1016/s0161-6420(00)00660-6. PubMed 11297496 ↗
  • Wong MO, Lee JW, Choy BN, Chan JC, Lai JS. Systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty in open-angle glaucoma. Surv Ophthalmol. 2015 Jan-Feb;60(1):36-50. doi: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2014.06.006. Epub 2014 Jul 2. PubMed 25113610 ↗
  • Quigley HA. Number of people with glaucoma worldwide. Br J Ophthalmol. 1996 May;80(5):389-93. doi: 10.1136/bjo.80.5.389. PubMed 8695555 ↗
  • Groth SL, Albeiruti E, Nunez M, Fajardo R, Sharpsten L, Loewen N, Schuman JS, Goldberg JL. SALT Trial: Steroids after Laser Trabeculoplasty: Impact of Short-Term Anti-inflammatory Treatment on Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty Efficacy. Ophthalmology. 2019 Nov;126(11):1511-1516. doi: 10.1016/j.ophtha.2019.05.032. Epub 2019 Jun 6. PubMed 31444008 ↗
  • Hodge WG, Damji KF, Rock W, Buhrmann R, Bovell AM, Pan Y. Baseline IOP predicts selective laser trabeculoplasty success at 1 year post-treatment: results from a randomised clinical trial. Br J Ophthalmol. 2005 Sep;89(9):1157-60. doi: 10.1136/bjo.2004.062414. PubMed 16113372 ↗
  • Melamed S, Ben Simon GJ, Levkovitch-Verbin H. Selective laser trabeculoplasty as primary treatment for open-angle glaucoma: a prospective, nonrandomized pilot study. Arch Ophthalmol. 2003 Jul;121(7):957-60. doi: 10.1001/archopht.121.7.957. PubMed 12860797 ↗
  • Ayala M, Chen E. Comparison of selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) in primary open angle glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol. 2011;5:1469-73. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S25636. Epub 2011 Oct 12. PubMed 22069348 ↗
  • Shazly TA, Smith J, Latina MA. Long-term safety and efficacy of selective laser trabeculoplasty as primary therapy for the treatment of pseudoexfoliation glaucoma compared with primary open-angle glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol. 2010 Dec 16;5:5-10. doi: 10.2147/OPTH.S15952. PubMed 21311650 ↗
  • Latina MA, Park C. Selective targeting of trabecular meshwork cells: in vitro studies of pulsed and CW laser interactions. Exp Eye Res. 1995 Apr;60(4):359-71. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4835(05)80093-4. PubMed 7789416 ↗
  • Koucheki B, Hashemi H. Selective laser trabeculoplasty in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma. J Glaucoma. 2012 Jan;21(1):65-70. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0b013e3182027596. PubMed 21278588 ↗
  • Alon S. Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty: A Clinical Review. J Curr Glaucoma Pract. 2013 May-Aug;7(2):58-65. doi: 10.5005/jp-journals-10008-1139. Epub 2013 May 9. PubMed 26997784 ↗
  • Rothman, A. L., Delwadia, N. A., Sarwal, R., Stinnett, S. S., Lee, P. P., Herndon, L. W., & Challa, P. (2014). A Comparison of Topical Steroids Versus Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs after Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty. Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, 55(13), 6158-6158.
  • Park CH, Latina MA, Schuman JS. Developments in laser trabeculoplasty. Ophthalmic Surg Lasers. 2000 Jul-Aug;31(4):315-22. No abstract available. PubMed 10928669 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — The decision to share individual participant data (IPD) with other researchers is currently under consideration. The final decision will be made in alignment with institutional policies and ethical guidelines to ensure the protection of participant confidentiality and the integrity of the study.

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jul 12, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06498440
Lead sponsor
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Responsible party
Enitan Sogbesan (Dr. Enitan Sogbesan, Principal Investigator, St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton) — Principal investigator
First posted
Jul 12, 2024
Start date
Sep 1, 2024 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jul 1, 2025 (estimated)
Completion
Jul 1, 2025 (estimated)
Last update
Jul 12, 2024

Study contacts

Sharan Bains, MD
Contact
bainss@mcmaster.ca
(905) 573-7777 ext. 38504
Enitan A Sogbesan, MD
Contact
bainss@mcmaster.ca
(905) 573-7777 ext. 38311
Enitan A Sogbesan, MD
principal investigator · St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Jul 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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