Ocular Surface Status in Newly Diagnosed Glaucoma Cases

Abstract

Uncontrolled administration and prolonged use of antihypertensive drugs with preservatives often leads not only to subjectively poor tolerance of treatment, but also to a deterioration in the results of subsequent surgery, if required. The manifestations of dry eye syndrome and its aggravation as a result of such drops use can lead the patients to refuse therapy and worsening the prognosis. The manifestations of dry syndrome are often detected before any hypotensive therapy begins, since the functions of secretory cells change with age and there is always the influence of adverse environmental factors. It is necessary to examine the condition of the anterior surface of the eye to resolve the issue of the need to prescribe drugs without preservatives for all patients before the appointment of antihypertensive therapy. However, sometimes it is not possible due to lack of time or equipment. Therefore, it is important to study the condition of the anterior eye surface in patients with newly diagnosed glaucoma before and during treatment with nonpreservative forms of antihypertensive drugs in order to determine the necessity of the first prescription of non-preservative forms of antihypertensive drops to further interpolate its results into practical recommendations. This study revealed that drug treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glaucoma with the drug Timolol-POS® β-blocker on a non-preservative basis along with IOP compensation improves both subjective and objective indicators of the condition of the anterior surface of the eye with maximum effect after 3 months of treatment. This conclusion suggests the importance of the primary appointment for such patients with instillation drops on a preservative basis.