Patients with glaucoma are at high risk for developing dry eye disease (DED)1, with 40–59% of patients with glaucoma being diagnosed with DED worldwide2.
DED in glaucoma is multifactorial and can be both iatrogenic and co-morbid2. As a comorbidity, DED occurs due to decreased tear production from chronic inflammation and increased tear evaporation from meibomian gland dysfunction2. Subsequently, the cumulative effect of medications, preservatives and excipients in glaucoma treatment can alter underlying cellular structures (Fig 1), resulting in iatrogenic tear film abnormalities and instability2.
Ocular surface inflammation may manifest as early as three months after initiation of anti-glaucoma therapy3, accompanied by the ocular side effects of glaucoma medications (eg. stinging, burning, itching, redness) 4. These side effects pose significant barriers to patient adherence2 and, in turn, poor adherence increases the risk for glaucoma progression5. Furthermore, the severity of toxic or allergic reactions to topical anti-glaucoma medications is related to the number of daily drops, the duration of treatment and the presence of preservatives, as preservatives in glaucoma medication can also negatively impact the ocular surface6-9.
Systane Hydration Preservative-free
One option to manage dry eye symptoms for patients with glaucoma is Systane Hydration Preservative-free lubricant eye drops. Systane Hydration Preservative-free combines HA* with Alcon’s unique formulation of HP-Guar and borate which crosslink to form a meshwork to increase the retention of demulcents10.
Systane Hydration Preservative-free creates a moisture layer that provides increased hydration, with 2x better protection against dryness compared with hyaluronic acid alone11, increased tear break-up time compared to lubricating eye drops containing HA alone12 and 2x the lubricity compared to HA alone11. By providing superior moisture retention, Systane Hydration Preservative-free supports ocular surface healing and corneal re-epithelialisation13**.
Systane Hydration Preservative-free provides long-lasting, effective relief from DED symptoms in patients with glaucoma and can be considered as part of their dry eye management plan11,14,15.
References:
- Kuze M, Ayaki M, Yuki K, et al. Seasonal variation of intra-ocular pressure in glaucoma with and without dry eye. Sci Rep. 2020;10(1):13949.
