Ocular Redness Measured with the Keratograph 5M in Patients Using Anti-Glaucoma Eye Drops.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To examine correlations between ocular redness measured with the new topographer Keratograph 5M and the use of topical anti-glaucoma medication. METHODS: A total of 211 eyes of 211 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension on topical medication and 51 eyes of 51 healthy volunteers were recruited over 10 months. Outcome variables were keratograph redness scores (RS) overall, bulbar temporal (BT), bulbar nasal (BN), limbar temporal (LT), and limbar nasal (LN). In each subject, we also recorded the intraocular pressure-lowering eye drops used, daily doses and daily and cumulative preservative concentrations, fluorescein corneal staining score (OXFORD), lower tear meniscus height (Fourier-domain OCT), non-invasive tear film breakup time (Keratograph 5M), and ocular surface disease questionnaire index (OSDI). RESULTS: Higher RS were recorded in the medication than control group (P < 0.01 all scores). Within the medication group, older patients returned greater RS (P < 0.05 all scores). Prostaglandin was a strong predictor of higher scores, except LN RS. A higher OSDI was associated with a higher LN RS (ß = 0.007; P < 0.05), while the use of ß-blockers was linked to a lower LN RS (ß = -0.225; P < 0.05). The use of ≥3 daily eye drops with preservative gave rise to a higher BN RS and ≥3 daily eye drops to a higher LN RS (ß = 0.366, P < 0.01; ß = 0.296, P < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSION: Keratograph 5M can objectively detect the hyperaemia induced by glaucoma medication. The factors contributing to ocular redness were advanced age, more daily eye drops (nasal sectors), a higher OSDI, and prostaglandin as the medication used.