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Topical glaucoma meds may lead to corneal graft failure

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A large-scale study has found topical glaucoma medication use was a significant risk factor for corneal graft failure. Glaucoma medications may cause three different types of failure: rejection, endothelial decompensation without an immunologic reaction or by promoting ocular surface diseases, study authors noted.

Marianne O. Price, PhD, and colleagues with the Cornea Research Foundation of America analyzed corneal graft survival rates of 3,992 consecutive penetrating keratoplasties. Patients were examined preoperatively and at 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months post-transplantation. After the 2-year mark, patients were followed annually.

Deep stromal vascularization was an independent risk factor for failure. Significant risk factors for endothelial failure included diabetes, peripheral anterior synechiae, recipient race and small trephination size.

The study is published in the August issue of Archives of Ophthalmology.