The impact of common classes of topical antiglaucoma medications on central corneal thickness

• Published in: Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford, England) Vol. 86; no. s243
• Main Authors: WIERZBOWSKA, J, FUKSINSKA, B, MATUSIK, R, STANKIEWICZ, A, SIERDZINSKI, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2008
• ISSN: 1755-375X; 1755-3768
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.2008.523.x

Purpose Recent studies have shown that prostaglandin analogs (PGA) may induce biochemical (via FP receptor and MMP‐2 activation) and morphological (via collagen type I contraction) changes in corneal stroma thus affecting central corneal thickness (CCT). Beta‐blockers (BB) and topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAI) were found to have rather no effect on CCT. To investigate the influence of common classes of topical antiglaucoma medications used either in monotherapy or combined therapy on CCT. Methods In a retrospective study 487 eyes from consecutive 260 patients (148F/112M) with open angle glaucoma were examined. Depending on the topical treatment they were classified into 7 groups: A/ PGA (n = 212), B/ BB (n = 54), C/ CAI (n = 36), D/ PGA + CAI (n = 25) E/ PGA + BB (n = 23) F/ BB + CAI (n = 54), G/ non‐treated (n = 83). The CCT was measured using ultrasound pachymetry Tomey AL‐2000. The central corneal power was measured with the Topcon keratometer. ANOVA analyses were used for statistical analysis. Results There were no statistically significant differences between CCT of all groups (F=1,06, p=0,3931); the lowest values were in the eyes treated with PGA + BB (535,9 nm SD 31,4) and the highest in the eyes treated with PGA + CAI (571,3 nm SD 46,3). The mean CCT in group A was 550,4 (SD 40,8), group B 552,5 (SD 34,7), group C 562,6 (SD 40,2), group D 571,3 (SD 46,3), group E 535,9 (SD 31,4), group F 559,5 (SD 32,5), group F 557,5 (SD 42,2) nm. Conclusion In this study CCT appears not to differ in eyes treated with different classes of antiglaucoma medications either in monotherapy or combined therapy. CCT of treated glaucoma eyes does not differ from CCT of untreated glaucoma eyes.