Brazilian researchers used new objective parameters measured by keratograph analysis to uncover a high prevalence of ocular surface disease (OSD) clinical findings in glaucoma patients.

They evaluated 30 patients who were using at least one topical intraocular pressure-lowering medication and 27 control subjects with cataracts. The team compared OSD between the two groups by analyzing tear break-up time (TBUT), conjunctival hyperemia, keratitis and Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire scores. Participants underwent keratograph analysis, including noninvasive TBUT, meibography, tear meniscus height and redness scale.

The researchers discovered that conjunctival hyperemia, keratitis and OSDI scores were worse in the glaucoma group. Further confirming the significant difference in OSD between both groups, the keratograph assessment found smaller tear meniscus height, worse bulbar redness, higher meibography grades and worse noninvasive keratograph TBUT in the glaucoma patients.

The study concluded that, overall, patients with glaucoma have a worse quality of life due to symptoms of dry eye.