Purpose To investigate the usefulness of meibomian gland (MG) dropout rate in the evaluation of MG morphological change associated with the use of prostaglandin for glaucoma treatment through the association between MG and the ocular surface parameters and medication duration and presence of preservative. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 88 eyes of 88 patients who were diagnosed with glaucoma and used only Tafluprost as treatment. The patients were divided into four “user” groups: 1) 23 patients used preservative-free (PF) Tafluprost for 6 months; 2) 21 patients used preservative-containing (PC) Tafluprost for 6 months; 3) 23 patients used PF-Tafluprost for 24 months; 4) 21 patients used PC-Tafluprost for 24 months. Ocular surface parameters and the MG condition, including MG dropout rate and meiboscale, were evaluated. Multiple regression was used to identify associations. Results There were significant differences in age (p = 0.003), tear breakup time (p = 0.016), lid margin abnormality (p = 0.016), expressibility (p = 0.039), meiboscale (p<0.001), and MG dropout rate (p<0.001) among the 4 groups. MG dropout rate and meiboscale showed significant differences in all post hoc analyses, except for the comparison between the PF-Tafluprost and PC-Tafluprost 6-month user groups. Medication duration, preservative status, and meiboscale were significantly correlated with MG dropout rate (p<0.001, p = 0.024, p<0.001, respectively). In the 6-month user group, preservative status significantly correlated with MG dropout rate (p = 0.015). However, in the 24-month user group, meiboscale was the only parameter significantly associated with MG dropout rate (p<0.001). Conclusion MG dropout rate in patients using Tafluprost showed a significant correlation with medication duration and preservative status. This result indicates MG dropout rate reflects MG morphologic change associated with prostaglandin.

AimsIn this study, we tested the hypothesis that intraocular pressure (IOP) parameters measured by dynamic contour tonometry (DCT) would be more relevant in progression of glaucoma when there is a history of laser refractive surgery (LRS) than the IOP parameters measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT) or calculated by correction formulae.MethodsNinety-eight eyes in 54 patients with open-angle glaucoma and a history of LRS were included in this retrospective study. IOP was measured by both GAT and DCT during follow-up. Baseline, mean, and peak IOP, IOP fluctuation, and IOP reduction were measured by each tonometry method. Corrected IOP parameters using central corneal thickness and mean keratometry values were also analysed. Clustered logistic regression was used to identify variables correlated with progression of glaucoma. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for correlated variables were also compared.ResultsThe mean DCT value (OR 1.36, p=0.024), peak DCT value (OR 1.19, p=0.02) and pattern SD (OR 1.10, p=0.016) were significant risk factors for progression. There was a significant difference in the predictive ability of the mean DCT and GAT values (AUC 0.63 and 0.514, respectively; p=0.01) and of the peak DCT and GAT values (0.646 and 0.503, respectively, p=0.009). The AUCs for corrected IOP did not exceed those of DCT.ConclusionsIOP measurements were more associated with progression of glaucoma when measurements were obtained by DCT than by GAT or correction formulae in eyes with a history of LRS.

Near and distance stereoacuity were significantly lower among patients with POAG than among control subjects. Near stereoacuity worsened with increasing POAG severity but distance stereoacuity did not. However, the proportion of patients with a lack of distance stereoacuity was higher in the POAG group than in the control group.

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PurposeTo assess whether the asymmetry in the peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness between superior and inferior hemispheres on optical coherence tomography (OCT) is useful for early detection of glaucoma.Materials and MethodsThe patient population consisted of Training set (a total of 60 subjects with early glaucoma and 59 normal subjects) and Validation set (30 subjects with early glaucoma and 30 normal subjects). Two kinds of ratios were employed to measure the asymmetry between the superior and inferior pRNFL thickness using OCT. One was the ratio of the superior to inferior peak thicknesses (peak pRNFL thickness ratio; PTR), and the other was the ratio of the superior to inferior average thickness (average pRNFL thickness ratio; ATR). The diagnostic abilities of the PTR and ATR were compared to the color code classification in OCT. Using the optimal cut-off values of the PTR and ATR obtained from the Training set, the two ratios were independently validated for diagnostic capability.ResultsFor the Training set, the sensitivities/specificities of the PTR, ATR, quadrants color code classification, and clock-hour color code classification were 81.7%/93.2%, 71.7%/74.6%, 75.0%/93.2%, and 75.0%/79.7%, respectively. The PTR showed a better diagnostic performance for early glaucoma detection than the ATR and the clock-hour color code classification in terms of areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) (0.898, 0.765, and 0.773, respectively). For the Validation set, the PTR also showed the best sensitivity and AUC.ConclusionThe PTR is a simple method with considerable diagnostic ability for early glaucoma detection. It can, therefore, be widely used as a new screening method for early glaucoma.

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reviewed and approved this study. Also, our approving IRB waived the need for us to obtain informed consent for study participations. All study conduct adhered to the tenets of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Purpose. To investigate ocular surface diseases and changes in the quality of life (QOL) of patients using glaucoma medications. Methods. Participants were divided into the normal (31 individuals, 62 eyes) and glaucoma medication (30 patients, 60 eyes) groups. Changes in tear break-up time (TBUT), lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and visual function questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25) score were assessed for 1 year.Results. The change in mean LLT was lower in glaucomatous eyes than in control eyes (P = 0.019) after 1 year. The results of OSDI deteriorated (P' = 0.008), but conjunctival staining and Schirmer test results showed improvement in glaucomatous eyes compared to those in control eyes (P' =0.035 and 0.009, respectively). The average LLT decreased at 6 and 12 months, but there was no change at 24 months. In pairwise analysis, the decrease in LLT over the first 6 months was statistically significant (P < 0.001), and remained unchanged until 24 months. Among the VFQ items, scores for near activity and social function deteriorated over 1 year in the medication group (P' = 0.033 and 0.015, respectively).However, there was no difference in the total VFQ score.Conclusions. Significant reduction in LLT and deterioration of OSDI were observed in the medication group compared to the control group. However, this deterioration was observed only in the first 6 months.There was no significant difference in the VFQ total score. Nonetheless, there were significant differences in near activity and social function between the control and medication groups. Therefore, the results of this study showed that although glaucoma medication worsened eye dryness, the change was limited and did not worsen the QOL. Glaucoma medication should be used with the consideration that they can limit near activity and social functioning.