Topical antiglaucoma medications and lacrimal drainage system obstruction.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of topical antiglaucoma medications on the lacrimal drainage system.


METHODS
In a prospective controlled blind observational case series, 627 eyes of 384 patients (219 males, 165 females) were screened. Data recording (demographics and history taking), allocation in case (on topical antiglaucoma medications) and control (no glaucoma) groups, and examinations (eye examination and dye disappearance test) were performed by a senior ophthalmology resident. Exclusion criteria were epiphora prior to onset of treatment with topical antiglaucoma medication (only for case group), history of long-term use of topical medications (other than antiglaucoma medications in the case group), and previous ocular and periocular disorders. Diagnostic probing and irrigation of the lacrimal drainage system were performed by an oculoplastic surgeon masked to a patient's status as case or control.


RESULTS
After exclusion, there were 130 eyes from 98 patients and 280 eyes from 178 patients in the case and control groups, respectively. Case and control groups were matched. There was significantly more lacrimal drainage system obstruction in the case group (26 of 130, 20%) than in the control group (24 of 280, 8.57%) (p = 0.002). Upper lacrimal drainage system obstruction was significantly more in the case group (p = 0.018). Increasing age was associated with significantly more obstruction in the control group only (p = 0.029). Statistically significant obstruction was found in the patients taking timolol + dorzolamide (p = 0.021) and timolol + dorzolamide + pilocarpine (p = 0.017) with a duration of 2 weeks to 156 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients taking a combination of topical antiglaucoma medications showed significantly increased risk of developing lacrimal drainage system obstruction. Both total and upper obstruction was significantly more frequent in patients on topical antiglaucoma medications.
Eye Research Center, Rassoul Akram Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. bahmanik@yahoo.com
Mohsen Bahmani
MB
Kashkouli
Reza
R
Rezaee
Navid
N
Nilforoushan
Shabnam
S
Salimi
Alireza
A
Foroutan
Masood
M
Naseripour
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000187:drug effects*; D007767:Lacrimal Duct Obstruction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000009:adverse effects; D010862:Pilocarpine / Q000009:adverse effects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects; D013999:Timolol / Q000009:adverse effects
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D010862:Pilocarpine; D013999:Timolol; C062765:dorzolamide