A Prospective Observational Study on Ocular Surface Disorders After Long-Term Use of Anti-Glaucoma Medications.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/mb66fg18Keywords:
Glaucoma, Anti-glaucoma medication, Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD), TBUT, Schirmer’s testAbstract
Aim:
To evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of ocular surface disease (OSD) in patients with glaucoma treated with topical anti-glaucoma medications.
Methods:
This prospective observational study was conducted between May 2022 and May 2024 at a tertiary care hospital in coastal Odisha. Newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma patients were enrolled. Baseline evaluation included the OSDI questionnaire, TBUT, Schirmer’s test, fluorescein staining, and conjunctival impression cytology. Follow-up assessments were done at 6 and 12 months.
Results:
A total of 187 eyes of 95 patients were included. At 12 months, 54.74% developed OSD. Prevalence increased significantly with age (p < 0.001) and was higher in rural populations (65.4%). OSD was more common with multiple drug therapy (75.86%). TBUT and Schirmer’s values significantly declined over time. Preservative-containing medications showed a higher association with OSD (p < 0.05).
Conclusion:
Long-term use of anti-glaucoma medications significantly contributes to the development of OSD, especially with multiple drugs and preservatives.
Recommendation:
Routine ocular surface evaluation and use of preservative-free formulations should be encouraged to improve patient compliance and outcomes.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Dr. Sandipana Senapati, Deepak Choudhury, Dr. Ramamani Dalai, Dr. Nikita Dash, Dr. Tarun Kumar Panda, Dr. P. Ansuman Abhisek (Author)
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