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Prevalence of ocular symptoms and signs with preserved and preservative free glaucoma medication

2002; BMJ; Volume: 86; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1136/bjo.86.4.418

1468-2079

Pierre‐Jean Pisella,

Plant-based Medicinal Research

To determine the incidence of ocular toxicity of preservatives with glaucoma medications.A prospective epidemiological survey was carried out in 1999 by 249 ophthalmologists on 4107 patients. Ocular symptoms, conjunctiva, cornea, and eyelids were assessed. A chi(2) test was used for differences between preserved eye drops (P) and preservative free eye drops (PF).84% patients used P, 13% received PF, and 3% a combination of P and PF eye drops. All symptoms were more prevalent with P than with PF drops (p 2 times) of ocular signs was seen with P eye drops. The prevalence of signs and symptoms was dose dependent, increasing with the number of P drops. A reduction in the symptoms and signs was observed when patients changed from P to PF eye drops (p<0.001).Symptoms and signs are less prevalent when PF drops are used. Moreover, most of the adverse reactions induced by P glaucoma medication are reversible after removing preservatives.