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. 2002 Apr;86(4):418-23.
doi: 10.1136/bjo.86.4.418.

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

P J Pisella  1 , P Pouliquen, C Baudouin
Affiliations

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

P J Pisella et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2002 Apr.

Abstract

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 chi(2) test was used for differences between preserved eye drops (P) and preservative free eye drops (PF).

Results: 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<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.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of signs and symptoms—number of preserved eye drops used at the first visit.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Treatment modification after the first visit (n=956).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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