[The effect of preservative-free treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma on the state of ocular surface in combination therapy (intermediate results)].

UNLABELLED

The goal of antihypertensive therapy is to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP). Sometimes it can only be achieved by using two or more drugs, which can lead to undesirable side effects on the ocular surface. The use of drugs that do not contain preservatives leads to fewer undesirable side effects, while also reducing the need for instillations of artificial tears, making it economically beneficial for patients.

PURPOSE

To assess the state of ocular surface in patients with POAG when switching to preservative-free carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (ICA) containing 0.18% sodium hyaluronate in combination with prostaglandin analogues and beta-adrenergic blocking agents.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was conducted in 2019; according to selection criteria, it included 46 patients (80 eyes) with POAG and a control group of healthy persons. At the start of the study and one month later, after a change of treatment to uninterrupted ICA containing 0.18% sodium hyaluronate, the patients had state of their ocular surface examined: Norn's test (tear break-up time; TBUT), Schirmer's test, vital staining with lissamine green and an Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) survey.

RESULTS

Replacing the ICA with benzalkonium chloride in the combination therapy of glaucoma with a preservative-free ICA containing 0.18% sodium hyaluronate - Dorzolan Solo (Solopharm, Russia) - expectedly did not lead to additional decrease of IOP, but resulted in a decrease in the width of the confidence interval according to both Maklakov's and Icare tonometers, which may be associated with increased treatment adherence. At the same time, the state of ocular surface in the observation group was statistically significantly improved according to Norn's test - from 3.57±1.3; 3.0 (3.0; 5.0) to 4.9±2.5; 5.0 (3.0; 6.0) (V=16.5; p=0.0039).

CONCLUSION

According to Schirmer's test and vital staining with lissamine green, no statistically significant changes have occurred. OSDI survey did not reveal changes in the study patients during 4 weeks of the follow-up, while the control group exhibited improvement.