Ocular surface injury resulted from topical anti-glaucoma medications: prevention and cure

Abstract

The accumulating evidences from experimental and clinical studies suggested that the ocular surface could be injured by topical anti-glaucoma medications. The ocular surface injury not only caused dry eyes, red eye, eye itching, photophobia and other discomforts, but also increased the risk of failure of glaucoma surgery in patients. The commonly used preservative Benzalkonium Chloride (BAK) plays an important role in ocular surface damage and its side effects are dose- and time-dependent, particularly, in the combined medications. Topical application of preservative BAK could result in the damage of epithelial cells and endothelial cells, and also affect the central corneal thickness. Prevention of ocular injury should be seriously taken into consideration in the anti-glaucoma medical treatment. Development of complex preparations, preservative-free and/or novel preservative preparations for glaucoma therapy may provide a promising approach in the prevention of ocular surface injury.