Cross-sectional Study to Assess Ocular Surface and Tear Film Status in Patients on Topical Antiglaucoma Therapy

Aim and background: To assess ocular surface and tear film status in patients on topical antiglaucoma medication. When monotherapy proves insufficient, polytherapy and drug combinations are used. Long-term use of multiple topical medications is correlated with ocular irritation and tear film instabi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Jayshri B Pandhre, Sanjiv Agrawal, Radhika Umale, Amogha U Mahale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publisher 2025-06-01
Series:Journal of Medical Academics
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Online Access:https://www.jmaacms.com/doi/JOMA/pdf/10.5005/jp-journals-11003-0160
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Summary:Aim and background: To assess ocular surface and tear film status in patients on topical antiglaucoma medication. When monotherapy proves insufficient, polytherapy and drug combinations are used. Long-term use of multiple topical medications is correlated with ocular irritation and tear film instability. Materials and methods: This observational cross-sectional study involved 81 eyes from 43 patients receiving antiglaucoma medications. Among them, 18 patients (<i>n</i> = 34) were using single medications, while 25 patients (<i>n</i> = 47) were on two or more medications. The assessment included corneal staining with fluorescein, impression cytology of the conjunctiva, the Schirmer test, and tear film break-up time (TBUT). Results: The percentage of ocular surface alterations varied from 9 to 70%, and abnormal tear film status varied from 32 to 72%. The subjects in the polytherapy group had higher corneal staining (70 vs 47%, <i>p</i> = 0.0354, significant) and abnormal (72 vs 59%, <i>p</i> = 0.0005, significant). The percentage of abnormal impression cytology reports (9 vs 4%, <i>p</i> = 0.4804) and Schirmer test results were almost equal in both groups. Conclusion: Ocular surface disorders (OSD) are more common in polytherapy, as they are in all antiglaucoma medication users. However, the tear film status is more significantly affected in subjects on polytherapy.
ISSN:2581-8279