A number of large clinical trials have found pseudoexfoliation (PXF) to be a major risk
factor for glaucoma progression and risk of blindness. It is estimated that PXF accounts for
approximately a quarter of cases of open angle glaucoma in Nova Scotia, Canada, making this
region an ideal setting for studying patients with this condition. Despite associated high
morbidity, the treatment of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma remains suboptimal and a challenge for
the clinician. Topical medical therapy is less effective than for primary open angle glaucoma
and patients often require early surgical therapy, with associated risks. Selective laser
trabeculoplasty (SLT) may be a safe and effective treatment for pseudoexfoliative glaucoma,
although the evidence for this is presently lacking. The aim of the current study is to
provide the first controlled-trial evidence for the effectiveness of SLT, compared to topical
therapy, in the management of pseudoexfoliative glaucoma.