Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents
10:10

Full-Circle Cauterization of Limbal Vascular Plexus for Surgically Induced Glaucoma in Rodents

Published on: February 15, 2022

Conjunctival modifications induced by medical and surgical therapies in patients with glaucoma

Leonardo Mastropasqua1, Luca Agnifili, Rodolfo Mastropasqua

  • 1Department of Medicine and Ageing Science, Ophthalmic Clinic, University G. d'Annunzio of Chieti-Pescara, Chieti, Italy. mastropa@unich.it

Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|November 7, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Glaucoma treatment via medication or surgery significantly alters the conjunctiva and ocular surface. Strategies like unpreserved medications and bleb-less surgery can mitigate these harmful effects.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Ocular Surface Disease
  • Glaucoma Management

Background:

  • Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is crucial for glaucoma control.
  • Medical and surgical glaucoma treatments profoundly impact the conjunctiva and ocular surface.
  • Long-term medical therapy can lead to toxicity and allergic reactions, worsening ocular surface disease.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the effects of glaucoma treatments on the conjunctiva and ocular surface.
  • To identify strategies for mitigating treatment-induced ocular surface complications.
  • To improve patient quality of life and therapeutic compliance in glaucoma management.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on glaucoma treatment modalities and their ocular surface effects.
  • Analysis of conjunctival modifications induced by medical therapies (toxicity, allergy).
  • Evaluation of surgical techniques (fistulizing, filtration, bleb-less) and their impact on conjunctival integrity and aqueous humor outflow.

Main Results:

  • Medical glaucoma therapies can cause progressive conjunctival changes, leading to ocular surface disease.
  • These changes negatively affect quality of life, treatment adherence, and surgical outcomes.
  • Surgical interventions, including bleb formation or trans-scleral routes, also alter conjunctival tissue.

Conclusions:

  • Minimizing conjunctival damage during glaucoma surgery is advisable.
  • Utilizing unpreserved medications can reduce treatment-related toxicity and allergy.
  • Development and adoption of bleb-less surgical techniques may offer a safer alternative for glaucoma management.

More Related Videos

Induction of Ocular Surface Inflammation and Collection of Involved Tissues06:38

Induction of Ocular Surface Inflammation and Collection of Involved Tissues

Published on: August 4, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Glaucoma: Overview01:25

Glaucoma: Overview

Glaucoma is an eye condition characterized by increased intraocular pressure that damages the retina and optic nerve, leading to irreversible blindness if left untreated. The human eye has various components, including the cornea, iris, pupil, lens, and optic nerve. Aqueous humor is secreted by the epithelium of the ciliary body in the posterior chamber and flows through the trabecular meshwork and canal of Schlemm, maintaining normal intraocular pressure. The trabecular meshwork and the canal...
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment01:27

Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment

In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment01:28

Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment

Angle-closure glaucoma, or closed-angle glaucoma, is an eye condition where the iris bulges out and blocks the iridocorneal angle, resulting in a buildup of aqueous humor and increased intraocular pressure. Immediate medical attention is necessary due to the sudden onset of symptoms. The treatment for angle-closure glaucoma includes short-term and long-term approaches. Short-term treatment involves using eye drops like pilocarpine to lower intraocular pressure by increasing aqueous humor...
Microbiome of the Eye01:22

Microbiome of the Eye

The human eye has a specialized microbiota that reflects its unique anatomical and immunological environment. This low-biomass microbial community predominantly colonizes the conjunctiva and eyelid margins, playing a vital role in ocular surface homeostasis and defense. Despite its proximity to the richly colonized facial skin, the ocular surface maintains a distinct microbial profile due to continuous mechanical and biochemical defense mechanisms.The conjunctival surface hosts fewer microbial...
Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems01:23

Ophthalmic Drug Delivery Systems

Ophthalmic drug delivery faces major limitations due to poor absorption across the corneal membrane. This process is primarily driven by diffusion and is influenced by two main factors: the physicochemical properties of the drug and tear drainage. Most ophthalmic drugs, such as pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, and local anesthetics, are weak bases. They are typically formulated at an acidic pH to enhance chemical stability. However, this leads to high ionization, reducing their ability to...
Accessory Structures of the Eye01:17

Accessory Structures of the Eye

Optical perception, or vision, is an extraordinary sense dependent on converting light signals received via the ocular organs. These organs, known as eyes, are securely positioned within the bony cavities of the skull, called orbits. The orbits serve a dual purpose: a protective shield for the ocular globes and a stable attachment point for the soft ocular tissues. The eye's external protective mechanisms include the eyelids, which are edged with lashes that act as a barrier against foreign...