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Abstract #3600 Published in IGR 4-2
Prevalence of ocular symptoms and signs with preserved and preservative free glaucoma medication
Pisella PJ; Pouliquen P; Baudouin CBritish Journal of Ophthalmology 2002; 86: 418-423
AIM: To determine the incidence of ocular toxicity of preservatives with glaucoma medications. METHODS: A prospective epidemiological survey was carried out in 1999 by 249 ophthalmologists on 4107 patients. Ocular symptoms, conjunctiva, cornea, and eyelids were assessed. A Χ2 test was used for differences between preserved eye drops (P) and preservative free eye drops (PF). RESULTS: Eighty-four percent of 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 < 0.001): discomfort upon instillation (43 versus 17%), and symptoms between instillations such as burning-stinging (40 versus 22%), foreign body sensation (31 versus 14%), dry eye sensation (23 versus 14%), tearing (21 versus 14%), and eyelid itching (18 versus 10%). An increased incidence (> 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). CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Dr. P.J. Pisella, APHP Ambroise Pare Hospital, University Paris V, Ophthalmology Department, 9, avenue Charles de Gaulle, 92100 Boulogne, France
Classification:
11.16 Vehicles, delivery systems, pharmacokinetics, formulation (Part of: 11 Medical treatment)