Dry Eye Disease Prevalence Exponentially Increases with Age in Patients under Topical Glaucoma Treatment.

Abstract

Purpose : Dry eye disease (DED) is a common comorbidity in glaucoma patients. Use of topical IOP-lowering medications seems to increase appearance and symptom intensity of DED. Increased age is another risk factor for developing DED in patients with glaucoma. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of DED in a glaucoma clinic-based population as well as its major risk factors.

Methods : A retrospective analysis of 233 consecutive cases visiting a referral glaucoma center in Western Mexico including a wide age spectrum. All cases selected must have complete information about visual function and ocular surface symptoms, BCVA, number of glaucoma medications, topical glaucoma treatment duration, visual field indexes, vertical c/d ratio, RNFL thickness, presence of corneal fluorescein staining, BUT, ocular redness and presence of ocular surface conditions.

Results : Mean age was 58.55 ± 20.14 years (range, 12-89). Participants were predominantly female (n=148; 63.5%). Mean time under topical treatment (RE, 4.92 ± 5.30 years; LE, 4.98 ± 5.33 years) and number of IOP-lowering medications was 2.79 ± 1.46. Mean BUT time (RE, 6.61±2.13 sec.; LE, 6.60±2.18 sec.). The most common types of conditions present in the studied population were ocular hypertension (34.8%), primary open-angle glaucoma (26.2%), primary closed-angle glaucoma (8.2%) with a mean c/d ratio of 0.68 ±0.27. Overall prevalence of DED was 51.07% (n=119). Prevalence of DED by age groups exponentially increased from 17.9% (<40 years of age; n=7) to 30.7% (41-49 years; n=12), 42.5% (50-59 years; n=17), 60% (60-69 years; n=21), 72.5% (70-79 years, n=29), and 82.5% (≥ 80 years; n=17).

Conclusions : This report corroborates the high prevalence of DED in patients treated for glaucoma with topical IOP medications. The importance of age and time of topical therapy duration were also crucial risk factors for the appearance of DED.

This is a 2020 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.