An observational study in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, Glaucoma and Primary Open Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension, sponsored by Brian Shafer. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-22.
Sponsored by Brian Shafer · Observational
Background
Glaucoma is a progressive optic neuropathy characterized by elevated intraocular pressure (IOP), leading to irreversible vision loss. Current treatment strategies often involve medications, which can be challenging for patients due to adherence issues and side effects. Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) represents a potential surgical alternative for managing IOP in patients with naive, untreated glaucoma. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of DSLT in achieving significant IOP reduction without the need for postoperative medications.
Unmet Medical Need:
Overview of DSLT
Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty (DSLT) is an emerging technology in glaucoma management that combines laser techniques to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). While it works off the auspices of a previous technology (SLT), the method of delivery is significantly different.
Current Research Landscape
Most existing studies focus on patients who have already received other forms of treatment or who have more advanced glaucoma. This creates an unmet need to evaluate how DSLT can be effectively integrated into the management of patients at the very beginning of their glaucoma journey. Understanding its efficacy in this population is crucial for establishing best practices and improving long-term outcomes.
Interventional Glaucoma Management vs. Standard of Care
Standard of care for newly diagnosed glaucoma typically involves medications, such as topical prostaglandin analogs, which can have side effects and may not be effective for all patients. In contrast, interventional glaucoma management-such as DSLT-offers a potentially more direct approach to lowering IOP without the need for ongoing medication. Investigating DSLT in this context could lead to a paradigm shift in how newly diagnosed patients are managed, reducing their reliance on medications and potentially improving adherence and quality of life.
Conclusion
Addressing this research gap will not only help clarify the role of DSLT in early glaucoma management but could also enhance patient outcomes and guide future treatment protocols. Focusing on newly diagnosed patients is essential for determining the long-term benefits and risks associated with this innovative technology.
929 studies on the registry are indexed under Glaucoma, Open-Angle; 122 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 101 across 182 observational studies indexed under Glaucoma, Open-Angle.
Browse Glaucoma, Open-Angle studies →Brian Shafer is the lead sponsor of 2 studies on the registry; 2 are open to participants now.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Subjects 18 years or older who have primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who are treatment naïve.
Adults aged 18 years or older:
Participants must be adults, aged 18 years or older, to ensure they are capable of providing informed consent and to focus on adult-onset glaucoma. This age threshold allows the study to target a population where open-angle glaucoma typically manifests, avoiding potential variations in outcomes that might arise in younger populations with different types of ocular conditions.
Diagnosis of naive, untreated open-angle glaucoma or similar conditions:
The study is restricted to individuals who have been newly diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma and have not yet received any form of treatment, either pharmacological or surgical. This ensures that the effects of DSLT (Direct Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty) are evaluated without the confounding influence of prior treatments.
Other similar conditions may include ocular hypertension or other early-stage glaucomatous conditions where IOP reduction is indicated (ie: pigment dispersion syndrome/glaucoma and pseudoexfoliation). This broadens the inclusion slightly to capture patients with conditions that have a similar disease mechanism and treatment goal, without including those with more complex or mixed forms of glaucoma.
Exclusion Criteria:
Previous glaucoma surgeries/interventions:
Patients who have undergone prior glaucoma-related surgeries (e.g., trabeculectomy, laser trabeculoplasty, or shunt procedures) or received other significant glaucoma interventions (such as long-term glaucoma medication use) are excluded. This criterion ensures the study evaluates the effect of DSLT in a treatment-naive population. Prior surgeries or interventions could bias the results by introducing variability in eye physiology, making it difficult to attribute outcomes solely to DSLT.
Secondary glaucoma or other significant ocular conditions:
Patients with secondary forms of glaucoma, such as angle-closure glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, or glaucoma resulting from trauma or other systemic diseases, are excluded. These conditions often have different pathophysiological mechanisms, which could lead to varied responses to DSLT.
Other significant ocular conditions that could interfere with the study include advanced cataracts, retinal diseases (e.g., age-related macular degeneration), or any condition that might complicate the assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP) or visual function. Excluding these conditions ensures a clearer evaluation of DSLT's effects on open-angle glaucoma without interference from unrelated ocular abnormalities.
3. Patients who are unable to fixate their head and/or eyes, such as patients suffering from uncontrolled nystagmus, tremors, or similar conditions.
4. Patients with a pupil that cannot constrict to a diameter of 4 mm or less.
In summary, these criteria focus on a specific and controlled population of treatment-naive glaucoma patients to provide a clean evaluation of the effectiveness and safety of DSLT, while excluding individuals whose prior treatments or other conditions could skew the results.
Subjects with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension with baseline IOPs greater than 21mmHg.
Device: Direct Selective Laser Trabuloplasty
Eligible participants will undergo the DSLT procedure to facilitate controlled aqueous outflow. DSLT will consist of 120 shots, 400 µm spot size, energy 1.4-1.8 mJ delivered at the limbus over 2.4 seconds
Also known as: DSLT, Eagle DSLT
Percent Reduction in IOP from baseline at 6 months
Percent Reduction in IOP from baseline at 6 months
Time frame: 6 months
Percentage of Eyes Achieving ≥ 20% Reduction in IOP at 6 months
The success rate of IOP reduction at 6 months, where success is defined as % of eyes achieving ≥20% reduction from baseline pre-treatment IOP.
Time frame: 6 months
IOP reduction from baseline at 1 and 3 months
Percentage IOP reduction from baseline at 1 and 3 months
Time frame: 3 months
Rate of Secondary Interventions at 6 months
The rate of secondary interventions (e.g., additional treatment or procedures) at 6 months post-DSLT.
Time frame: 6 months
Plan to share: No — The IPD is kept private at Shafer Vision Institute and is not available for outside access.
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