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 and P < 0.001, respectively) and Tenon’s capsule/sclera (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). 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). 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.