( Glaucoma medications- preservative-free: Many benefits )
Most eyedrops for glaucoma have preservatives that have side-effects and can reduce the quality and efficacy of treatment over a period of time. Many anti-glaucoma drops content preservative agents and common among them is Benzalkonium Chloride ( BAK ). It is a cationic surfactant that leads to cell lysis ( death of cells).
Many studies have shown that BAK is unreliable as a means of maintaining the sterility of the eye drops. BAK has a direct toxic effect on the ocular surface, decreases tear film stability and can cause epithelial defects.
Preservatives in glaucoma eyedrops can reduce in the success rate of glaucoma surgery.
Preservative-free single-use eye-pressure-lowering eyedrop preparations are now commercially available.
A note : I would probably not change a patient to preservative-free drops if they were over 75 years old and doing well with their current therapy for glaucoma.
However, I would change a patient below 65 years to a preservative-free regimen so as to avoid ocular complications.
Dr. Shabbir Saifuddin ( Ophthalmologist ) Jumeirah 1
