Treating Ocular Surface Disease in Patients with Glaucoma
Patients undergoing treatment for glaucoma may have a higher incidence of ocular surface disease (OSD) and require short-term OSD treatment to control symptoms and intraocular pressure without discontinuing glaucoma medication, according to study results published in Clinical Ophthalmology.
Ocular surface disease index (OSDI) questionnaire, assessment of objective ocular surface parameters, ocular surface staining, and Schirmer test were used to screen symptoms prior to the starting a regiment of eyelid hygiene, fluorometholone acetate 0.1%, preservative-free lubricants, free-acid supplementation, and oral tetracyclin derivate to treat OSD.
Approximately 73% of patients (N = 19) had severe dry eye disease symptoms, with baseline OSDI scores higher than 33. Tear film instability and severe meibomian gland abnormalities were found in 50% and 23.53% of patients, respectively. Fluorescein and lissamine green stainings were abnormal in 88.24% and 82.35% of patients, respectively.
Statistically significant improvement after ocular surface treatment was found in best-corrected visual acuity (P = 0.0003), OSDI score (P < 0.0001), bulbar redness (P = 0.0196), and fluorescein staining (P < 0.0001.) After treatment for OSD, mean intraocular pressure reduced -1.59 mmHg from baseline in the left eye (P = 0.0510).
The authors concluded that although the prevalence of OSD in patients with glaucoma undergoing topical treatment was high, short-term treatment for OSD may improve symptoms and interocular pressure control.
Reference
Mylla Boso AL, Gasperi E, Fernandes L, Costa VP, Alves M. Impact of ocular surface disease treatment in patients with glaucoma. Clin Ophthalmol. 2020:14:103-111. DOI: 10.2147/OPTH.S229815.