Polyoxyethylene Hydrogenated Castor Oil Modulates Benzalkonium Chloride Toxicity: Comparison of Acute Corneal Barrier Dysfunction Induced by Travoprost Z and Travoprost

Abstract

Methods: Corneal transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) was measured in live white Japanese rabbits by two Ag/AgCl electrodes placed in the anterior aqueous chamber and on the cornea. We evaluated corneal TER changes after a 60-s exposure to travoprost Z, travoprost, and 0.015% BAC.Similarly, TER changes were evaluated after corneas were exposed for 60 s to the travoprost additives EDTA, boric acid, mannitol, trometamol, and polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil 40 (HCO-40) with or without BAC. Corneal damage was examined after exposure to BAC with or without travoprost additives using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a cytotoxicity assay.Results: Although no decreases of TER were noted after exposure to travoprost Z with sofZia and travoprost with 0.015% BAC, a significant decrease of corneal TER was observed after 0.015% BAC exposure. With the exception of for BAC, no corneal TER decreases were observed for any travoprost additives. After corneal exposure to travoprost additives with BAC, HCO-40 was able to prevent the BAC-induced TER decrease. SEM observations and the cytotoxicity assay confirmed that there was a remarkable improvement of BAC-induced corneal epithelial toxicity after addition of HCO-40 to the BAC.

Investigation of Protective Effects of Sodium Hyaluronate Eyedrop Against Corneal Epithelial Disorders Using an Electrophysiological Method

“…Furthermore, it was reported that the corneal epithelium of the 0.02% BAC-treated cornea showed detaching and wrinkling of the superficial cells, dissociations between the cells, and degenerated microvilli. 44 In conclusion, the results of the present study indicate that the corneal TER after applying antiglaucomatous eyedrops tended to decrease concomitantly with increasing the concentration of the BAC included as a preservative. Moreover, the pretreatment with Hyalein Mini reduced the extent of decrease in the corneal TER observed after application of each antiglaucomatous eyedrop alone.…”

Travoprost with sofZia® preservative system lowered intraocular pressure of Japanese normal tension glaucoma with minimal side effects

“…Some suggest travoprost with sofZia® is safest for the cornea;20–22 however, we could not directly compare it with travoprost preserved with BAC in NTG patients because the latter is not available in Japan. The result in this study suggests that travoprost with sofZia® is safe on the cornea.…”

Influence of Different Additives and Their Concentrations on Corneal Toxicity and Antimicrobial Effect of Benzalkonium Chloride

“…9,10 Further, BAC has also been shown to induce precorneal tear film instability on the corneal surface and the appearance of dry spots. 16 Overall, these findings suggest that when evaluating drug toxicity, it is necessary to also consider potential interactions that could occur with the additives commonly found with BAC. 12,13 Therefore, the chronic use of eye drops containing BAC can potentially have an adverse effect on the cornea.…”