Apoptosis in the iris and trabecular meshwork of medically treated and untreated primary open angle glaucoma patients

To compare the trabecular meshwork (TM) and iris apoptosis of treated and untreated primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Eight treatment-naive, newly diagnosed (group 1) and 11 medicaly treated (group 2) patients with POAG were included in the study. Each patient underwent a limbus-based trabeculectomy. The TM and peripheral iris specimens were dissected out and were snap-frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C until they were assayed. Apoptosis in each group was assesed by TUNEL method.

The mean patient age was 60.6±5.8 years (53-68 years) vs 58.9±8.9 years (47-70 years) in group 1 and group 2 (P=0.859). The mean treatment time in group 2 was 22.2±7.3 months (12-34 months). Apoptotic indexes in TM and iris were significantly higher in POAG patients using medication (group 2) compared to treatment-naive POAG patients (group 1) (P=0.004, 0.015; respectively).

Long term administration of topical antiglaucoma medications causes additional toxic effects on TM.