Conditions: Glaucoma
Keywords: Glaucoma Xalatan Travatan Z Latanoprost Travoprost Dry Eye
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 14
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The purpose of the study is to compare the efficacy of FDA-approved Travoprost (Travatan Z) and Latanoprost (Xalatan)as anti-glaucoma treatment. Several studies indicate that glaucoma medications may be associated with decreased tear production and tear film break-up time (TBUT), and increased inflammatory cells in the conjunctiva (membrane lining of the eye lids and the covering of the eye) leading to dry eye. Normal tear film (coating of the eye) is continuous and blinking maintains the tear film continuity. If you keep your eyes open long enough without blinking, the tear film will start breaking up. Your eye will feel uncomfortable forcing you to blink. In patients with dry eyes, the tear film is unstable, and breaks up faster. Therefore the tear break up time in patients who have dry eyes is shorter.

In this study, the investigators will be comparing the two previously mentioned FDA-approved eye drops Latanoprost and Travoprost. The difference between the two medications is a preservative called benzalkonium chloride (BAK). Latanoprost contains BAK while Travoprost does not. The investigators will be comparing the efficacy of each medication in lowering IOP as well as trying to track the density of immune cells across the corneal surface by taking photos of your eye. The investigators will also be assessing whether either drop leads to symptoms of dry eye by comparing results from ocular surface exam tests such as TBUT.

Detailed description:
The purpose of the study is to compare the early effects of two anti-glaucoma eye drops on eye pressure and inflammation of the eye using a microscope. One of the eye drops contains a commonly used preservative, benzalkonium chloride (BAK), while the other is free of this preservative, instead it utilises a new ionic buffer system called SofZia. Prolonged use of BAK may be damaging to the eye surface and thus being investigated at a microscopic level in this study.

Specific aims are to assess the in vivo effect of topical BAK-containing and BAK-free prostaglandin analogue anti-glaucoma therapy on intraocular pressure (IOP), as well as on density and morphology of corneal immune cells, epithelial cells and sub-basal nerve plexus.

Arms:
arm 1: 7 Patients were randomized to receive BAK-containing Xalatan for treatment of their glaucoma. arm 2: 7 Patients were randomized to receive BAK-free Travatan Z for treatment of their glaucoma.

Interventions: intervention 1: Travoprost intervention 2: Latanoprost
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: One drop Travatan Z (0.004% ophthalmic solution) in affected eye once daily. intervention 2: One drop Xalatan (0.005% ophthalmic solution) in affected eye once daily.

Protocol document: