Abstract
Purpose:
To analyze the effect of anti-glaucomatous topical treatments on the morphology and function of meibomian glands
Methods:
This is a cross-sectional observational study of 45 patients with glaucoma treated with anti-glaucomatous eye drops and 20 patients without any topical eye drop treatment. Both groups were of similar ages. Glaucomatous patients had been treated with anti-glaucomatous eye drops for more than one year. We have analyzed the following parameters: number of anti-glaucomatous treatments, number of eye drops per day and number of treatments that contained benzalkonium chloride. Additionally, we performed the following tests: Schirmer test, tear break-up time test, slitlamp biomicroscopy analysis of the ocular surface and non-contact meibography (Meibom-Pen, JFC) of the upper eyelid
Results:
No differences were observed in the Schirmer test results between both groups. Tear break-up time was shorter in patients treated with anti-glaucomatous eye drops (p<0.05). Additionally, this group presented a higher degree of superficial punctate keratopathy (p<0.05), specially those patients with more than one medication. Meibomian gland depletion in the upper eyelid was also higher in this group (p<0.05)
Conclusions:
Anti-glaucomatous topical treatments affect the meibomian gland morphology (tortuosity and length) and function. Additionally, they decrease the total area of meibomian glands in the upper eyelid
Keywords: 486 cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye