skip to content
Dovepress - Open Access to Scientific and Medical Research
View our mobile site

8852

Effects of prostaglandin analog therapy on the ocular surface of glaucoma patients

Original Research

(3422) Views  (1041) Full article downloads

Authors: Michael B Horsley, Malik Y Kahook

Published Date March 2009 Volume 2009:3 Pages 291 - 295
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OPTH.S5328

Michael B Horsley, Malik Y Kahook

Rocky Mountain Lions Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, CO, USA

Purpose: To quantify changes in tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal staining and ocular surface disease index (OSDI) in glaucoma patients after switching therapy from latanoprost with 0.02% benzalkonium chloride (BAK) to travoprost with sofZia™.

Methods: Prospective consecutive case series evaluating patients before and 8 weeks after switching from latanoprost with BAK to travoprost with sofZia™ in patients with baseline TBUT less than 6 seconds.

Results: Forty eyes of 20 consecutive patients using latanoprost with BAK were switched to travoprost with sofZia™. Mean TBUT prior to starting travoprost was 2.02 ± 0.71 seconds and increased to 6.34 ± 1.31 seconds 8 weeks after the switch (p < 0.001). Mean inferior corneal staining scores decreased from 2.40 ± 0.87 to 1.38 ± 0.59 (p < 0.001). Mean OSDI scores decreased from 26.31 ± 8.25 to 16.56 ± 6.19 (p < 0.001).

Discussion: This report focuses on the status of the ocular surface, as documented by TBUT, corneal staining and OSDI, in patients switched from latanoprost with BAK to travoprost without BAK. The switch resulted in a statistically significant increase in TBUT and decreases in corneal staining and OSDI in patients with low baseline TBUT values.

Conclusion: BAK, a common preservative for glaucoma drops, may increase OSD by disrupting the tear film and increasing conjunctival inflammation. In this study, a change from a BAK-preserved prostaglandin analog (PGA) to a non-BAK-preserved PGA resulted in a measurable improvement of TBUT, corneal staining and OSDI. Further studies are needed to better understand the impact of BAK-preserved medications on the ocular surface.

Keywords: ocular surface, glaucoma, benzalkonium chloride, prostaglandin analog






 

Other articles by Dr Malik Kahook



Readers of this article also read:

A comfort comparison of travoprost BAK-free 0.004% versus latanoprost 0.005% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension
Acquired color vision and visual field defects in patients with ocular hypertension and early glaucoma
Unilateral retinitis pigmentosa and cone-rod dystrophy
Role of aliskiren in cardio-renal protection and use in hypertensives with multiple risk factors
Oral versus topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in ocular hypertension after scleral tunnel cataract surgery
Efficacy and safety of prostaglandin analogues in patients with predominantly primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension: a meta-analysis
Central corneal thickness in subjects with glaucoma and in normal individuals (with or without pseudoexfoliation syndrome)
Characteristics of respondents with glaucoma and dry eye in a national panel survey
Bevacizumab (Avastin®) for the management of anterior chamber neovascularization and neovascular glaucoma
Multiple pregnancies and its relationship with the development of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP)