Posters

Tear film characteristics, corneal sensitivity and innervation in eyes with topical latanoprost without preservative

Poster Details

First Author: S. Elnayef SPAIN

Co Author(s):    A. Da Corta Fumei   G. Julio   P. Pujol   L. Almudi   M. Asaad        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Medical therapy is the usual first choice to treat primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension (OH). Long-term use of antiglaucoma drugs may induce ocular surface changes, causing ocular discomfort and alterations in tissue functionality. These side effects could be attributable to the active component as well as to the preservatives or other excipients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of topical latanoprost without preservative on tear film characteristics, corneal sensitivity and innervation.

Setting:

Prospective, interventional, case-control study from September 2015 to February 2016 in Hospital de Terrassa -Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa . Ambulatory care.

Methods:

Thirty-four eyes of 21 males (62%) and 13 females with 64 ± 12 years (35-89 years) were recruited. Latanoprost group (LG) included 22 eyes (16 (73%) with POAG and 6 with OH) with 6 ± 4 months of treatment (range= 3-19 months). Controls had no eye abnormalities or inflammation symptoms and similar age and sex than LG. Corneal sensitivity (CS), with Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer, in the four quadrants and the centre, in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), tear osmolarity, Break-up time (BUT), and Schirmer I test were carried-out. Subbasal nerve number (SNN) and length (SNL) were measured by IVCM images.

Results:

In controls, median corneal sensitivity of each point was always normal (6.0 cm; range= 4.5-6.0 cm). In LG, median values ranged from 5.5 to 6 cm (range= 4.5-6.0 cm). Mean tear osmolarity, BUT and Schirmer I test were normal in both groups. Corneal sensitivity and tear film comparisons showed no significant differences between groups (p>0.05; Mann-Whitney test). Nevertheless, SNN was significantly lower (p<0.05; Mann-Whitney test) in LG (LG_SNN= 26 ± 10; 12-44 nerves/mm^2; control_SNN= 39 ± 9; 25-50 nerves/mm^2). SNL showed no significant differences between groups.

Conclusions:

Topical latanoprost without preservative seems to reduce the number of corneal subbasal nerves, maintaining corneal sensitivity within normal ranges. However, chronic treatments longer than the analysed in this work may alter corneal innervation and also trigger tissue sensitivity loss. The prostaglandin, with proinflammatory activity, or some solubilizers included in this eye drop formulation, to dissolve the antiglaucoma drugs, may induce these detrimental effects in the eye.

Financial Disclosure:

NONE