Abstract
Objective: To study the frequency and severity of ocular surface disease among glaucoma patients attending
the Eye Clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Methods: A hospital-based, cross sectional study was carried out at the Eye Clinic of the University College
Hospital, Ibadan. After a detailed ocular examination, each respondent completed an Ocular Surface Disease
Index (OSDI) questionnaire and performed central visual field assessment. Participants were analyzed for the
effect of anti-glaucoma topical medications (all BAK-preserved) and glaucoma severity on ocular surface disease.
Results: A total of 122 consecutive glaucoma patients were studied. Males accounted for 45.1%. Increasing daily
drops of anti-glaucoma medication was significantly associated with increasing side effects such as redness,
stinging and peppery sensations (p < 0.01). Eighty four patients representing 68.9% had some form of OSD using
the OSDI score. The OSDI scores and the number of patients with OSD significantly increased with increasing
glaucoma severity (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Ocular surface disease was found to be associated with glaucoma severity and use of BAK-preserved
topical anti-glaucoma medications.
Key words: Benzalkonium chloride, Glaucoma, Ibadan, Ocular surface disease
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