title: Prevalence of ocular surface complaints in patients with glaucoma using topical intraocular pressure-lowering medications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of ocular surface disease (OSD) in patients with glaucoma using topical intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective observational study enrolled patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were on a topical IOP-lowering medication regimen. Enrolled patients completed the ocular surface disease index (OSDI) and OSDI scores (0-100, with 0 representing no symptoms) were calculated for each patient. Medical history, demographics, and concomitant medication information were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 630 patients from 10 sites participated. Of these, 305 patients (48.4%) had an OSDI score indicating either mild (n = 134, 21.3%), moderate (n = 84, 13.3%), or severe (n = 87, 13.8%) OSD symptoms. OSDI scores were significantly different between patients with and without a prior diagnosis of dry eye syndrome (25.2 +/- 15.4 vs 15.4 +/- 15.8, respectively; P = 0.0036) and between patients who did and did not use artificial tears at the time of study participation (23.0 +/- 15.6 vs 15.3 +/- 15.8, respectively; P = 0.0046). Mean OSDI scores varied significantly with the number of topical IOP-lowering medications used, with higher (more severe) OSDI scores in patients using multiple IOP-lowering medications. Specifically, patients on a single medication had a mean OSDI score of 12.9 +/- 13.1, which was significantly lower than those of patients on 2 (16.7 +/- 17.0; P = 0.007) or 3 medications (19.4 +/- 18.1; P = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSD is prevalent among medically treated patients with glaucoma. The severity of OSD symptoms is positively correlated to the number of IOP-lowering medications used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Fechtner
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Godfrey
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Budenz
authors.forename: Jeanette A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jasek
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions