Effect of artificial tears on automated visual field testing in patients with glaucoma and dry eye

Objective: To evaluate the effects of artificial tears on automated visual field (VF) testing in patients with glaucoma with dry eye syndrome. Design: Prospective study. Participants: Fifty eyes of 50 patients with medically treated primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were recruited for this study. The patients were subdivided into 2 subgroups: those with dry eye syndrome (group I) and those without dry eye syndrome (group II). Methods: Tear break-up time, Lissamine green staining, and Schirmer I test with topical anesthesia were performed in the same order in all patients. Ocular Surface Disease Index questionnaire was completed by the patients. All participants underwent automated perimetry using the 24-2 SITA (Swedish interactive threshold algorithm) standard strategy before and after 1-week treatment with a lubricating eye drop 4 times daily. VF results were compared before and after the treatment using Wilcoxon signed rank test, and Mann-Whitney test was performed to compare the results of patients in groups I and II. Results: Of the 50 patients, 25 (50%) were diagnosed with dry eye syndrome. No significant differences between both groups were found with respect to age (P = 0.779) and glaucoma duration (P = 0.722). In patients with glaucoma with dry eye syndrome, there was a significant improvement in test duration, mean deviation, and the number of depressed points at probability level less than 0.5% and less than 1% in pattern deviation plots after the treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The use of artificial tears in patients with glaucoma with dry eye syndrome decreased VF testing time and improved test results. © 2013 Canadian Ophthalmological Society.