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However, no studies using AS-OCT have reported on the conjunctival structure after long-term administration of anti-glaucoma eye drops. We previously demonstrated that AS-OCT images can detect conjunctival inflammatory responses and subconjunctival scarring after phacoemulsification and pars plana vitrectomy. Īnterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT) has facilitated the non-invasive imaging of conjunctival structures. These changes are deleterious because altered histology of conjunctival tissue was shown to be a risk factor for surgical failure in patients who underwent trabeculectomy. Although most anti-glaucoma eye drops do not cause severe systemic effects, some studies have demonstrated that long-term administration of anti-glaucoma eye drops induces histopathological and inflammatory changes in the conjunctival tissues. In most cases, long-term administration of anti-glaucoma eye drops is necessary for efficient IOP control. Most patients with glaucoma are treated with various anti-glaucoma eye drops to maintain IOP reduction. In the past decade, various anti-glaucoma eye drops have been developed, such as prostaglandin analogs, β-blockers, α-adrenergic-receptor agonists, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs), Rho kinase inhibitors, and fixed combinations including β-blockers/CAIs and ß-blockers/prostaglandin analogs. Large clinical trials have revealed that reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with glaucoma prevents the progression of glaucomatous optic neuropathy and visual field defects. Numerous anti-glaucoma eye drops and their long-term administration are associated with the disruption of the bulbar conjunctival borderlines detected by AS-OCT. Prostaglandin analogs and fixed combinations of β-blockers/prostaglandin analogs were prognostic factors for lower preservation rates of the borderlines between both the conjunctival stroma/Tenon’s capsule ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.009, respectively) and Tenon’s capsule/sclera ( P < 0.001 and P = 0.008, respectively). 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 and P < 0.001, respectively) and Tenon’s capsule/sclera ( P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). MethodsĪnterior 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.
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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.
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