Effect of Long-Term Topical Antiglaucoma Medication Use on the Ocular Surface.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to describe the prevalence and pattern of ocular surface disease (OSD) in glaucoma patients using preserved topical antiglaucoma medications in a Nigerian population.

Methodology: A comparative study of patients who had used topical preserved antiglaucoma medications for 6 months or more with age- and sex-matched individuals who were not on any other form of topical eye medication was carried out using fluorescein tear breakup time (FTBUT), Schirmer I test, and ocular surface staining with fluorescein and lissamine green. The right eyes of 103 eligible patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and that of 103 age- and sex-matched individuals (controls) were included in the study.

Results: The prevalence of OSD among users of preserved topical antiglaucoma medications was significantly higher than among nonusers as assessed by FTBUT (83.5% vs. 57.3%;P < 0.001), Schirmer I (30.1% vs. 17.5%; = 0.033), and ocular surface staining (62.1% vs. 31.1%;P < 0.001). Users of preserved topical antiglaucoma medications also had worse grades of OSD evaluated by FTBUT ( = 0.001), Schirmer I ( = 0.023), and ocular surface staining ( < 0.001).

Conclusion: The prevalence of subjective OSD was significantly higher among users of topical antiglaucoma medications than nonusers. Hence, preserved topical medication use is a serious concern for increased ocular surface morbidity among glaucoma patients. This calls for more attention to be paid to the consequences of OSD among glaucoma patients on topical medications.