The Effect of Glaucoma Medication On Dry Eye Syndrome

Most patients complain of dryness and grittiness sensation, relating it to Glaucoma or high ocular pressure. In fact, chronic glaucoma has no dryness symptoms. Grittiness sensation is the result of the eye drops used to treat glaucoma since they worsen a patient’s dry eye syndrome. Artificial tears without preservatives are prescribed to glaucoma patients for this particular reason and they can relieve them from dry eye sensation.

The effects of glaucoma medication on Dry Eye Syndrome as well as the quality of life in glaucoma patients have been investigated in a recent study. The study included two groups a medication group that has been compared to a control group. The investigation consisted of assessing for 1-year participants’ changes in tear break-up time, lipid layer thickness (LLT), corneal and conjunctival staining scores, ocular surface disease index (OSDI), and Visual Function Questionnaire 25 (VFQ-25) score were assessed for 1 year.

The results revealed a significant reduction in the LLT and a deterioration of OSDI in the medication group compared to the control group. This deterioration was significant only during the first 6 months. During the next six months, everything almost returned to normal. There was no significant difference in the VFQ total score. Nonetheless, the study revealed significant differences in near activity and social function between the two groups. Even though glaucoma medication worsened dry eye, it did not worsen the quality of life. Therefore, the principal concern should be the limitation of near activity and social functioning.