Original Article

Effects of Preserved and Unpreserved Beta Blocker Eye Drops on the Ocular Surface of the Glaucoma Patients

  • Sevda Aydın Kurna
  • Tomris Şengör
  • Yelda Buyru Özkurt
  • Yasemin Ağırman
  • Nurver Özbay

Turk J Ophthalmol 2007;37(6):420-426

Purpose:

Evaluation of the effects of preserved and unpreserved beta blocker eye drops on the ocular surface of the glaucoma patients.

Methods:

36 eyes of 20 patients with the new diagnosis of glaucoma are included in the study. Patients are given unpreserved timolol maleat %0.5 with abak system (group 1) or timolol maleat %0.5 with benzododecinium bromide (group 2). Intraocular pressure, Schirmer I wetting score and scale, tear breakup time, cornea and conjunctiva staining scores are recorded before and 1 to 3 months after the medication. Impression cytology specimens are taken before and 3 months after the medication.

Results:

No significant difference was observed between Mean schirmer I, scale and tear breakup time values before and after the medication (p>0,05). Corneal and total staining scores increased significantly after the medication. Cornea staining score was significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1. On the impression cytology specimens 3 months after the medication skuamöz metaplazi (Nelson) ratios were: %31,3 grade 0, %68,8 grade 1 in the superior quadrant, %50 grade 0, %50 grade 1 in the inferior quadrant in group 1; and superior and inferior quadrant %60, 0 grade 0, %35 grade 1 and % 5 grade 2 in group 2. In both groups predominantly in group 2 goblet cell density decreased in the impression cytology specimens but the decrease was not significant statistically.

Conclusions:

At athe end of the 3 months follow up period, as no significant difference other than corneal staining is observed between the groups we think that in addition to preservative substances, active substance timolol maleat is also responsible for the ocular surface damage.

Keywords: Glaucoma, Ocular surface, Beta blocker drugs