Association between ocular herpes simplex virus and topical ocular hypotensive therapy

Abstract

The authors performed a population-based, retrospective, cohort study to determine if the use of particular ocular hypertensive therapies is associated with ocular herpes simplex virus (OHSV). An OHSV event was either a medical claim from the Protocare Sciences managed care database (United States) with an International Classification of Diseases Ninth Edition (ICD-9) code for OHSV or a pharmacy claim for vidarabine or trifluridine ophthalmic solution. A total of 93,869 eligible glaucoma patients, 21 different ocular hypotensive agents, and 192,840 agent-utilizing patient combinations were identified. The overall OHSV event rate was 0.11%. The prevalence rate was estimated to be 161 per 100,000 population for 2000 to 2001 and 165 per 100,000 population for 1999 and 2001. There was no significant association between OHSV events rates and agent use for either the set of 21 agents (P = .260) or when 14 products having <5% usage were combined (P = .058). The authors conclude that the prevalence of OHSV among patients using ocular hypotensive therapy is similar to that found in the general population and there is no association between any specific hypotensive agent and OHSV.—Michael D. Wagoner