Ocular surface effects of antiglaucoma combination therapies in a rat model of corneal scraping

AbstractPurpose Severity of ocular surface damages in glaucoma patients was shown to be correlated to the number of instilled benzalkonium chloride (BAK) preserved (P) antiglaucoma eye drops. While preservative‐free (PF) eye drops reduce iatrogenic toxicity they do not restore the ocular surface. The effects of PF‐cationic emulsion of latanoprost (Catioprost®) and BAK‐free travoprost combined with P‐ or PF‐timolol formulations were compared to BAK‐preserved prostaglandin (PG)/timolol‐fixed combinations (FC) in an established rat model of ocular surface injury.Methods Seven PG/timolol combinations were assessed in a rat model of corneal scraping. The upper part of the corneal epithelium was scraped mechanically prior to a 5‐day treatment followed by clinical (in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), fluorescein staining) and histological evaluations. Conjunctival function was assessed by goblet cell count and MUC5AC immunostaining.Results Catioprost®/timolol combinations did not induce toxicity as evidenced by IVCM scoring, both reducing inflammatory cell infiltration greater than BAK‐free travoprost/P‐timolol combination. In contrast, BAK‐preserved PG/timolol‐FC presented elevated IVCM scores. MUC5AC staining and goblet cell count demonstrated that BAK‐free Catioprost®/PF‐timolol is the best tolerated combination.Conclusion BAK‐free Catioprost®/P‐timolol is very well tolerated, in contrast to BAK‐preserved PG/timolol‐FC. The findings suggest that Catioprost® associated with PF‐ or P‐timolol have the potential to benefit glaucoma patients with ocular surface disease. Commercial interest