Effect of Topical Glaucoma Therapy on Tear Film Stability in Healthy Subjects
Effect of Topical Glaucoma Therapy on Tear Film Stability in Healthy Subjects
Long term treatment with anti-glaucomatous drugs has been shown to increase the incidence of
 dry eye syndrome with all known consequences such as ocular discomfort and epithelial
 keratitis. Given that thinning of the tear film appears to be a risk factor for the
 development or the aggravation of dry eye syndrome, the current study seeks to investigate
 whether tear film thickness is changed after topical treatment with anti-glaucomatous drugs
 in healthy subjects.

 For this purpose, tear film thickness will be measured at baseline and after single
 instillation of one of 5 study drugs in one randomly chosen eye. In addition, one group of 20
 subjects will receive no drug and will serve as a second control. Drug effects on tear film
 thickness will be compared to the fellow, non-treated eye. In addition, effects on tear film
 thickness of timolol with preservatives (Timoptic 0.5%) will be compared to timolol without
 preservatives (Timophtal sine 0.5%) and three lubricants with different viscosity (Genteal
 HA, Hylo-Comod, Thealoz).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Men and women aged over 18 years

 -  Normal findings in the medical history and physical examination unless the
 investigator considers an abnormality to be clinically irrelevant

 -  Normal ophthalmic findings, ametropia < 6 Dpt.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Regular use of medication (except contraceptives), abuse of alcoholic beverages,
 participation in a clinical trial in the 3 weeks preceding the study

 -  Treatment in the previous 3 weeks with any drug

 -  Symptoms of a clinically relevant illness in the 3 weeks before the first study day

 -  Patients with known hypersensitivity to the study drug or any ingredients

 -  History or current COPD or asthma

 -  AV-block grade II or more

 -  Ametropy ≥ 6 Dpt

 -  Pregnancy