Preservative-Free Prostaglandin Analogs and Prostaglandin/Timolol Fixed Combinations in the Treatment of Glaucoma: Efficacy, Safety and Potential Advantages.

Abstract

Glaucoma therapy-related ocular surface disease (OSD) is a serious pathology with a broad spectrum of insidious clinical presentations and complex pathogenesis that undermines long-term glaucoma care. Preservatives, especially benzalkonium chloride (BAK), contained in topical intraocular pressure-lowering medications frequently cause or aggravate OSD in glaucoma. Management of these patients is challenging, and to date often empirical due to the scarcity of controlled long-term clinical trials. Most of the available data are extracted from case series and retrospective analysis. Preservative-free prostaglandins and prostaglandin/timolol fixed combinations are novel options developed to remove the harmful impact of preservatives, especially BAK, upon ocular tissues. Based on what is currently known on the value of preservative-free antiglaucoma therapies it is tempting to speculate how these new therapies may affect the future medical management of all glaucoma patients. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the current literature on preservative-free prostaglandins and preservative-free prostaglandin/timolol fixed combinations.

• Authors: Gábor Holló, Andreas Katsanos, Kostas G Boboridis, Murat Irkec, Anastasios G P Konstas
• Journal: Drugs (Drugs) Vol. 78 Issue 1 Pg. 39-64 (Jan 2018) ISSN: 1179-1950 [Electronic] New Zealand
• PMID: 29196953 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
• Antihypertensive Agents
• Benzalkonium Compounds
• Drug Combinations
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical
• Prostaglandins
• Prostaglandins, Synthetic
• Timolol

Topics

• Adrenergic beta-Antagonists (therapeutic use)
• Antihypertensive Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Benzalkonium Compounds (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Drug Combinations
• Glaucoma (drug therapy)
• Glaucoma, Open-Angle (drug therapy)
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (physiology)
• Ocular Hypertension (drug therapy)
• Preservatives, Pharmaceutical (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Prostaglandins (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Prostaglandins, Synthetic (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Retrospective Studies
• Timolol (pharmacology)