An In Vitro Evaluation for Corneal Damages by Anti-glaucoma Combination Eye Drops Using Human Corneal Epithelial Cell (HCE-T)

Abstract

The combination of anti-glaucoma eye drops is frequently used in clinical treatment, and it is known that the combination can cause corneal damage. Recently, an anti-glaucoma combination eye drops is developed, and the treatment by the combination eye drops is expected to enhance quality of life. However, effects of the combination eye drops on corneal epithelial cell damage have not been clarified. In this study, we investigated the corneal epithelial cell damage of commercially available anti-glaucoma combination eye drops, such as Xalacom® (latanoprost/timolol maleate combination eye drops), Duotrav® (travoprost/timolol maleate combination eye drops) and Cosopt® (dorzolamide hydrochloride/timolol maleate combination eye drops) using the human corneal epithelial cell (HCE-T). The cytotoxicity in Xalacom® was higher than that in Xalatan® (eye drops containing latanoprost) and Timoptol® (eye drops containing timolol maleate), and the benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and timolol maleate were related to cytotoxicity in Xalacom®. The cytotoxicity in Duotrav® and Cosopt® was lower than that in Timoptol®. The Duotrav® is preserved with a non-BAC system (POLYQUAD, polidronium chloride). Therefore, it was suggested that the POLYQUAD related to the low cytotoxicity in Duotrav®. On the other hand, the D-mannitol reduced the cytotoxicity by BAC in this study. This result suggested that the cytotoxicity in Cosopt® was reduced by D-mannitol. The Duotrav® and Cosopt® may be less damaging to the ocular surface of glaucoma patients receiving long-term eye drop therapy in compared with the combination of anti-glaucoma eye drops.