Conjunctival changes induced by prostaglandin analogues and timolol maleate: a histomorphometric study

Abstract

Although a moderate, diffuse inflammatory infiltrate was observed in PG-treated eyes, no changes in conjunctival epithelial thickness or subconjunctival collagen density were observed with these medications, suggesting that these drugs induce fewer changes than timolol maleate in the rabbit conjunctiva.

In Vivo Scanning Laser Confocal Microscopy of Conjunctival Goblet Cells in Medically-controlled Glaucoma

“…In a study using LSCM and impression cytology, Ciancaglini et al showed a significant decrease of GCs after 6 months of therapy with benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved or PF levobunolol hydrochloride (61% and 16%, respectively) (29). In a different impression cytology study, Russ et al found a transient increase in GCD in patients treated with preservative-containing prostaglandin analogs (PGAs), followed by a density reduction after longer periods of treatment (30). In line with this evidence, a further LSCM study observed a GCD increase after 1 month of therapy with BAK-preserved latanoprost, which was reduced to baseline values after 6 months; conversely, the use of PFtafluprost induced a short-term favorable stimulatory effect of on GCs, whose density remained stable at the 6-month follow-up (21).…”

“…In fact, besides the previously mentioned studies conducted on monotherapy regimens (29,30), only two recent LSCM studies investigated GCD values in multi-treated (≥3 medications) patients with uncontrolled glaucoma scheduled to undergo filtration surgery. In these patients, GCD was found to be markedly reduced compared to that in healthy controls, with values two times lower than those found in the present study in patients taking two medications (31,32).…”

The Effects of Polyquad-Preserved Travoprost, Benzalkonium Chloride-Preserved Latanoprost, Purite-Preserved Brimonidine and Preservative-Free Tafluprost on Ocular Surface: A Rabbit Ocular Surface Study

“…26 Russ ve ark., timolol ve PG analoglarının etkilerini karşılaştırarak bütün PG gruplarında konjonktival goblet hücre sayısında artış olduğunu saptamışlar-dır. 27 Uzun süreli PG analoğu kullanımının timolol preparatı kullanımına göre daha az kuru göz bulgularına neden olmasını bu etkiye bağlamışlardır. Hava kirliliğinin konjonktiva goblet hücre hiperplazisine neden olduğu gösterilmiştir.…”

Ocular surface evaluation in patients treated with a fixed combination of prostaglandin analogues with 0.5% timolol maleate topical monotherapy: a randomized clinical trial

“…Strong evidence provided by previous clinical and experimental studies has indicated that the chronic use of antiglaucoma drugs might induce ocular surface changes, causing discomfort at instillation, conjunctival inflammation, tear film instability, subconjunctival fibrosis, apoptosis of conjunctival epithelial cells and corneal surface changes (15-17). …”