Conjunctival structure of glaucomatous eyes treated with anti-glaucoma eye drops: a cross-sectional study using anterior segment optical coherence tomography

Background To determine the effect of various factors to the preservation rate of the conjunctival layer borderlines of glaucomatous eyes treated with anti-glaucoma eye drops. Methods Anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) images of the bulbar conjunctiva of 328 eyes were analyzed with and without anti-glaucoma eye drops to quantify the preservation rates of the conjunctival layer borderlines. Results More anti-glaucoma eye drops and a longer duration of administration were associated with lower preservation rates of the borderlines between both the conjunctival stroma/Tenon's capsule (P < 0.001 andP < 0.001, respectively) and Tenon's capsule/sclera (P < 0.001 andP < 0.001, respectively). Prostaglandin analogs and fixed combinations of beta-blockers/prostaglandin analogs were prognostic factors for lower preservation rates of the borderlines between both the conjunctival stroma/Tenon's capsule (P < 0.001 andP = 0.009, respectively) and Tenon's capsule/sclera (P < 0.001 andP = 0.008, respectively). Conclusions Numerous anti-glaucoma eye drops and their long-term administration are associated with the disruption of the bulbar conjunctival borderlines detected by AS-OCT.