Preservative-free Treatment in Glaucoma Is a Sensible and Realistic Aim for the Future

Abstract

Medical therapy is usually the first-choice option in the management of glaucoma. However, adverse effects of ophthalmic preparations can potentially jeopardise the safety and efficacy of the treatment. Eye-drop bottles contain multiple components, all of which have the potential to cause adverse reactions, although it is the preservatives that are major culprits. The effect of preservatives on the eye has been studied extensively in both human and animal tissues. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is a highly effective preservative and the most commonly used in antiglaucoma medications; however, BAC is toxic to ocular tissue, having the potential to cause adverse effects. The use of less toxic preservatives or preservative-free medications has the potential to improve the management of glaucoma.