Effects of Glaucoma Treatment on Ocular Surface and Tear Functions: Comparison of Trabeculectomy and Antiglaucomatous Drops

Abstract

Abstract Aim To investigate the tear function and ocular surface disease findings in glaucoma patients who received antiglaucomatous medication in one eye and trabeculectomy surgery in the other eye. Methods The patient group included 38 eyes of 19 patients who underwent trabeculectomy surgery with mitomycin C treatment in one eye at least 6 months ago and were followed up without medication, while the other eye was receiving antiglaucomatous medication. As a control group, 20 eyes of 20 healthy individuals were included in the study. Demographic data, follow-up period after trabeculectomy, antiglaucomatous medications, number of drops per day and duration of medication were recorded. Tear break-up time, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, Schirmer II test and conjunctival impression cytology were performed. Results There was a statistically significant difference in tear break-up time, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein staining, Schirmer II test and Nelson staging levels in both eyes of glaucoma patients when compared with the control group (p0.05). Although not statistically significant, tear break-up time, Schirmer II test, punctate staining and Nelson staging results were found to be better with increasing postoperative time. Conclusions Medications used in glaucoma patients and trabeculectomy surgery with MMC induced OSD of similar severity in our patient group. There was no superiority between trabeculectomy with MMC and trabeculectomy with MMC in terms of OSD incidence.