The effect of a preservative-free prostaglandin analogue on the condition of the ocular surface in patients with glaucoma

PURPOSE. The study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive effectiveness and the condition of the ocular surface in patients with glaucoma during monotherapy with the drug Traviolan® (travaprost 0.05%).METHODS. This longitudinal, randomized, prospective study included 27 patients (59.6% women, 40.4% men; mean age 64.1±6.4) with uncompensated primary open-angle glaucoma in early and moderate stages receiving mono-therapy with β-blockers or carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. This was a longitudinal, randomized, prospective, observational study. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination and assessment of dry eye symptoms using a questionnaire (Ocular Surface Disease Index, OSDI). An objective assessment of the condition of the ocular surface was carried out using the Sirius corneal topography device, which is used for assessment of tear film breakup time (TBUT). All patients were re-examined after 12 weeks.RESULTS. Intraocular pressure was significantly reduced at all study visits and amounted to 5.9±2.8 mm Hg at week12 (25.9%). There was a significant reduction in symptoms of dry eye, irritation, itching, and foreign body sensation (p<0.05 for each parameter). A significant improvement was also noted in terms of the condition of the ocular surface, and in most patients the symptom complex was classified as mild dry eye syndrome (p<0.05). Additionally, there was also a significant improvement in the OSDI score (p<0.05) with a mean of 17.95±5.35 points. The tear film breakup time by the end of observation increased by 4.1±2.3 sec and amounted to 7.4±3.1 sec.CONCLUSION. The drug Traviolan® has high antihypertensive effectiveness and good tolerability, and improves the condition of the ocular surface.