Glaucoma and the dry eye syndrome

The development of the dry eye syndrome in glaucoma patients is a pressing challenge during last 10 years. As reported by multiple investigators, the main causes for the development of corneal and conjunctival xerosis in such patients are: toxic action of preservatives in hypotensive ophthalmic medications, pharmacological effect of beta-blockers, and corneal trauma at the time of diagnostic manipulations. A meaningful action to prevent this disease is a to switch to either a preservative-free hypotensive ophthalmic medications, or to those containing a non-toxic preservative. A review of the literature was also done to find the causes, prevention and treatment methods of the dry eye syndrome in glaucoma patients