The comparison of eyelash lengthening effect of latanoprost therapy in adults and children

PURPOSE: To compare the eyelash lengthening effect of latanoprost in adults and children with glaucoma. METHODS: Twenty eyes of 13 men and 7 women (mean age: 54.9, range 42-69 years) with primary open-angle glaucoma and 20 eyes of 9 boys and 11 girls (mean age: 10.7, range 6-16 years) with glaucoma were included in this prospective study. In 19 children, juvenile glaucoma and in one, pseudophakic glaucoma had been detected. A single eyelash was pulled from the center of the upper eyelid before latanoprost therapy and at the sixth month of therapy, and measured. RESULTS: In adult cases, the mean eyelash length was 5.79+/-0.18 mm (5.5-6.1 mm) at baseline and 6.45+/-0.21 mm (6.2-6.8 mm) at the sixth month. In children, the mean length was 5.66+/-0.22 mm (5.3-6.0 mm) at baseline and 6.39+/-0.37 mm (5.9-6.9 mm) at the sixth month. The mean difference in eyelash lengths at baseline and the sixth month was 0.67+/-0.09 mm (0.5-0.7 mm) in adults and 0.75+/-0.25 mm (0.4-1.2 mm) in children. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in mean eyelash lengths at baseline and at the sixth month of latanoprost therapy were statistically significant in both adults and children (p=0.000). The mean of the difference of the eyelash length in children was higher than in adults but the result was not statistically significant (p=0.678).     

Effect on intraocular pressure during 24 hours after repeated administration of the fixed combination of latanoprost 0.005% and timolol 0.5% in patients with ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: To measure the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) for 24 hours after repeated administration of the fixed combination of latanoprost 0.005% and timolol 0.5%. METHODS: A randomized, double-masked placebo-controlled crossover study including 20 patients with ocular hypertension was carried out. Patients were randomized to treatment with the fixed combination of latanoprost and timolol or with placebo. The eyedrop was taken at 8 AM. After 2 weeks of treatment, the patients were hospitalized, and the IOP was measured at 8 AM, and thereafter every other hour until midnight, and also at 3 AM, 6 AM, and 8 A.M. After a washout period of 4 weeks, they switched to the other eyedrop, and after 2 weeks of treatment were hospitalized and the IOP measurements were repeated at the same intervals. RESULTS: The mean 24-hour IOP was 14.7 +/- 0.3 mm Hg (mean +/- standard error of the mean) for latanoprost and timolol and 19.4 +/- 0.3 mm Hg for placebo. This corresponds to a significant IOP difference of 4.7 +/- 0.4 mm Hg (95% confidence interval 3.8-5.8; P < 0.001) between the two treatments in favor of the combination. At all measured time points, except at 3 AM, the mean IOP was lower with latanoprost and timolol than with placebo. During daytime measurements the mean IOP was 13.9 +/- 0.7 mm Hg for the fixed combination and 19.5 +/- 0.7 mm Hg for the placebo. Corresponding figures at nighttime were 16.1 +/- 0.7 mm Hg and 19.2 +/- 0.7 mmHg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The fixed combination of latanoprost and timolol significantly reduced IOP after administration once daily for 2 weeks in patients with ocular hypertension. A reduction of IOP during a 24-hour period was seen, with a greater IOP reduction during daytime compared with nighttime. The fixed combination applied once daily could be a convenient alternative to concomitant therapy with its individual components.     

The effect of latanoprost on accommodation in young patients with ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: To determine whether topical latanoprost 0.005% had an effect on accommodative capacity after 1 month of treatment in young patients with ocular hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (9 men and 6 women, aged 20-40 years) with ocular hypertension were instructed to instill the drug to their right eye for 1 month; the left eye received no medication and served as control. Near point of accommodation, refraction, and intraocular pressure (IOP) were determined after 1 month of treatment. RESULTS: After 1 month of treatment with latanoprost, the mean IOP was reduced by 22.8% (5.8 mm Hg) in the treated eye and 1.86% (0.47 mm Hg) in the untreated control eye. No significant changes in refraction or near point of accommodation were observed in the treated or untreated eye. CONCLUSION: Short-term treatment with latanoprost 0.005% does not effect refraction or accommodation in young patients with ocular hypertension.     

Additive effect of unoprostone and latanoprost in patients with elevated intraocular pressure.

AIMS: To assess the additive effect of unoprostone and latanoprost in patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) METHODS: 32 patients with POAG or OHT were randomised to receive either latanoprost once daily or unoprostone twice daily for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks, all patients received both latanoprost and unoprostone for another 4 weeks. The IOP was measured at 9 am and 5 pm on the baseline, day 28, and day 56 visits, and at 9 am on day 14 and day 42 visits. The medications were given to the patients in an open label fashion. The observer was masked to the treatment given. The mean of the measurements was calculated. Safety parameters were also recorded. The additive effect of the medications was assessed by the reduction in intraocular pressure (IOP) when both medications were used, compared with when one medication was used. RESULTS: 28 patients completed both treatment periods and had IOP data available for evaluation. After 1 month of treatment, latanoprost significantly reduced IOP (mean by 6.1 (SEM 0.8) mm Hg (p<0.001) and unoprostone by 4.9 (1.0) mm Hg (p<0.001) from the baseline of 24.4 (0.6) mm Hg and 24.4 (1.1) mm Hg respectively (p = 0.18). When latanoprost once daily was given to patients treated with unoprostone, there was additional IOP lowering of 1.9 (0.6) mm Hg (p = 0.012). However, adding unoprostone to those being treated with latanoprost produced an IOP change of +0.4 (0.5) mm Hg (p = 0.42). Ocular symptoms and findings were mild and equally distributed between treatment groups, and after combined therapy. Hyperaemia and ocular irritation were the most frequently reported events. Over a third of patients experienced ocular irritation with the combination of medications. CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost once daily causes additional IOP lowering in eyes which were being treated with unoprostone twice a day. However, there was no additional IOP lowering when unoprostone was added to eyes which were being treated with latanoprost. Both drugs were well tolerated together with few ocular adverse events.     

Additive efficacy of unoprostone isopropyl 0.12% (rescula) to latanoprost 0.005%

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding unoprostone isopropyl 0.12% vs placebo both given twice daily to latanoprost 0.005% given every evening. METHODS: We treated 41 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension with latanoprost 0.005% for 1 month and then randomized each to either placebo or unoprostone isopropyl 0.12% for 8 weeks. Diurnal intraocular pressures were measured at 08:00, 10:00, 12:00, 18:00, and 20:00 hours, both at baseline (time of randomization) and after 8 weeks of treatment. RESULTS: Twenty patients were treated in the placebo group and 21 in the unoprostone isopropyl group. After 8 weeks of treatment in the placebo group, the trough intraocular pressure at 08:00 and the diurnal pressure were 20.4 +/- 3.2 and 19.1 +/- 2.2 mm Hg, respectively. In the unoprostone isopropyl group the pressures were 19.4 +/- 3.3 and 18.0 +/- 1.7 mm Hg (P =.22 and P =.042), respectively. However, eyes with a baseline pressure of 22 mm Hg or greater on latanoprost had an average 3.3 mm Hg greater reduction at trough (P <.01) and a 2.1 mm Hg greater decrease in diurnal pressure (P =.030) after adding unoprostone isopropyl (n = 14 eyes) compared with placebo (n = 16 eyes; P <.001). In addition, the range of the pressures throughout the diurnal curve was reduced from 2.7 mm Hg on latanoprost alone to 1.4 mm Hg after adding unoprostone isopropyl. Adverse events were similar between groups, and no patients were discontinued because of safety reasons. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that unoprostone isopropyl can safely improve the diurnal curve characteristics in patients who continue to have an elevated pressure on latanoprost 0.005% alone.     

Increased periocular pigmentation with ocular hypotensive lipid use in African Americans

PURPOSE: To report increased eyelid pigmentation as an adverse side effect associated with topical ocular hypotensive lipids in African Americans. DESIGN: Interventional case series. METHODS: Two African-American patients with open-angle glaucoma are described in whom increased eyelid pigmentation developed 1 month to 5 months after beginning treatment with either latanoprost or bimatoprost. RESULTS: Latanoprost was discontinued in an African-American patient, and pigmentation gradually diminished by 3 months after cessation of latanoprost. Increased eyelid pigmentation and increased eyelash length were noted in another African-American patient after just 4 weeks on bimatoprost. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in eyelid pigmentation and eyelash growth is a possible complication of topical ocular hypotensive lipid therapy, even in African-American patients. The changes seems to present earlier after bimatoprost treatment then after latanoprost treatment. Cessation of these medications may lead to loss of induced pigmentation.     

Comparison between latanoprost and brimonidine efficacy and safety in Indian eyes

PURPOSE: To compare the short-term efficacy and safety of topical latanoprost and brimonidine in Indian eyes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-eight patients with ocular hypertension, primary open-angle, pseudoexfoliation or pigmentary glaucoma were enrolled. Following baseline measurements, latanoprost was applied topically once daily in the evening for 12-weeks. After a washout period, brimonidine was applied twice daily in all patients for 6 weeks; 16 patients continued for 12 weeks. Patients were examined at 2, 6 and 12 weeks. The primary outcome measure was the difference in mean intra ocular pressure (IOP) reduction at 6 and 12 weeks. The mean diurnal variation of IOP at baseline and at 12 weeks was also compared. RESULTS: Twenty-six of 28 enrolled patients completed the study. One randomly selected eye of each patient was used for analysis. At 6 weeks, the mean IOP reduction was 11.2 mm Hg (+/- 2.9 mmHg) with latanoprost and 6 mmHg (+/- 3.3 mmHg) with brimonidine. At 12 weeks this was 10.8 mmHg (+/- 2.8 mmHg) and 6.9 mmHg (+/- 3.1 mmHg) respectively. At 6 weeks 85.7% (24) eyes obtained more than 25% reduction in IOP with latanoprost compared to 13 (46.4%) with brimonidine. IOP reduction was maintained with both drugs throughout the study period. Two eyes did not show any response to brimonidine. Latanoprost reduced the diurnal variation of IOP from 5.10 to 2.90 mmHg; brimonidine reduced it from 4.70 to 3.90 mmHg. Conjunctival hyperaemia was present in one patient on latanoprost and three patients on brimonidine. Two patients experienced drowsiness with brimonidine. Neither drug produced side effects necessitating withdrawal from the study. CONCLUSION: In this short-term study, both latanoprost and brimonidine effectively reduced IOP and stabilised the diurnal curve in Indian eyes. Latanoprost was more effective than brimonidine.     

Efficacy of bunazosin hydrochloride 0.01% as adjunctive therapy of latanoprost or timolol

PURPOSE: To evaluate the ocular hypotensive response of bunazosin hydrochloride 0.01% administered as adjunctive therapy in patients with glaucoma who were already receiving latanoprost 0.005% or timolol 0.5%. METHODS: Patients with primary open angle glaucoma who had received latanoprost (n = 60) or timolol (n = 60) for 6 months or longer were enrolled and prospectively randomized to receive additional administration of bunazosin or placebo. One hundred twenty eyes of 120 patients were thus divided into 4 subgroups of 30 patients each. Bunazosin was administered twice daily, and timolol or latanoprost was administered per label. The patients were followed up for 3 months. Responders were defined as having a reduction in intraocular pressure of greater than 2 mm Hg from baseline. RESULTS: Mean baseline intraocular pressure was 22.3 +/- 3.0 mm Hg in the bunazosin subgroup and 22.3 +/- 3.1 mm Hg in the placebo subgroup of the latanoprost arm, and 22.5 +/- 3.5 mm Hg in the bunazosin subgroup and 22.3 +/- 3.0 mm Hg in the placebo subgroup of the timolol arm. In the bunazosin subgroups of both arms, intraocular pressure was significantly reduced compared with baseline measurements (P < 0.05) with mean intraocular pressure measurement reductions of 2.1 +/- 2.4 mm Hg and 2.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg in the latanoprost arm and 2.6 +/- 2.1 mm Hg and 2.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg in the timolol arm at 6 and 12 weeks after the start of the follow-up, respectively. In the latanoprost group, bunazosin provided a further reduction of intraocular pressure (7.7%) at 12 weeks from that initially obtained at 2 weeks (P = 0.0377). In the placebo subgroups of the latanoprost and timolol arms, no significant change was found between at baseline and at any visit after the start of the follow-up. In the latanoprost and timolol arms, there was a significant difference in intraocular pressure and its change between the bunazosin subgroup and placebo subgroup at any visit after 4 weeks from the start of the follow-up (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Bunazosin hydrochloride 0.01% may provide an additional intraocular pressure reduction in patients already receiving latanoprost or timolol. Since adding bunazosin to eyes treated with latanoprost caused a relatively small hypotensive response at 2 weeks and provided a further reduction from 2 weeks to 12 weeks, longer than 4 weeks may be required to evaluate a clinically meaningful response to treatment. Further investigation on more cases and longer follow-up are needed.     

Acute effect of latanoprost on pulsatile ocular blood flow in normal eyes

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of an acute dose of 0.005% latanoprost on intraocular pressure and pulsatile ocular blood flow in normal eyes. METHODS: Nineteen volunteers received a single dose (two drops) of latanoprost 0.005% in one eye and placebo in the fellow control eye, randomized and masked to the observer. Intraocular pressure, perfusion pressure, pulsatile ocular blood flow, and systemic circulatory parameters were measured before and 8 hours after dosing. RESULTS: The mean (+/- SE) intraocular pressure, perfusion pressure, and pulsatile ocular blood flow before treatment were 17 +/- 1 mm Hg, 46 +/- 3 mm Hg, and 13 +/- 1 microl per second, respectively, in both the treated and control eyes. The mean intraocular pressure reduction was 4.9 and 2.1 mm Hg (28% and 12%) in the treated and fellow eye, respectively. The mean perfusion pressure increase was 5.6 and 2.8 mm Hg (12% and 6%) in the treated and fellow eye, respectively. The mean pulsatile ocular blood flow increase was 2.7 and 0.2 microl per second (20% and 1%) in the treated and fellow eye, respectively. The treated eye change in pulsatile ocular blood flow was not correlated to the change in perfusion pressure. Simultaneous reduction of intraocular pressure and increase or no significant change in pulsatile ocular blood flow occurred in 15 of 19 (79%) of the treated eyes. The systemic blood pressure and pulse rates remained in normal ranges over the 8-hour period. CONCLUSION: In this study, topical latanoprost significantly reduces intraocular pressure and increases ocular blood flow in normal eyes 8 hours after dosing. These effects of latanoprost may be beneficial in the management of glaucoma patients.     

A comparative clinical study of latanoprost and isopropyl unoprostone in Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy and safety of latanoprost versus isopropyl unoprostone (unoprostone) in Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH). METHODS: An 8-week, multicenter, randomized, comparative study was performed in 48 Japanese patients with POAG or OH. Four patients (two in each group) withdrew from the study, but their data were included in the safety assessment but not in the intraocular pressure (IOP) evaluation. The patients were randomly treated with latanoprost 0.005% once daily or unoprostone 0.12% twice daily for 8 weeks. IOP was measured at baseline and 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment. In addition, ocular and systemic adverse events were recorded. RESULTS: The baseline IOPs were similar between the latanoprost (n = 25) and unoprostone (n = 19) groups (24.3 +/- 2.4 mm Hg vs 23.3 +/- 2.1 mm Hg, respectively, = 0.18). The IOP reductions from baseline at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after treatment were 5.8 +/- 2.4, 6.6 +/- 2.5, and 6.7 +/- 2.0 mm Hg in the latanoprost group, and 3.8 +/- 2.0, 3.5 +/- 2.3, and 3.3 +/- 3.0 mm Hg in the unoprostone group, respectively. The IOP reduction in the latanoprost group at 8 weeks was larger than that in the unoprostone group ( < 0.001, analysis of covariance). Five adverse events were observed in 4 (15%) of 27 patients in the latanoprost group, and five adverse events were observed in 4 (20%) of 21 patients in the unoprostone group. There was no difference in the incidence of adverse events between groups ( = 0.71). CONCLUSION: Latanoprost produced a statistically greater reduction in IOP than unoprostone in Japanese patients with POAG or OH.     

A comparison of long-term intraocular pressure fluctuation in patients treated with bimatoprost or latanoprost

PURPOSE: To evaluate long-term intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuation in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension treated with bimatoprost or latanoprost. DESIGN: Post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data from a previously reported multicenter, investigator-masked, randomized clinical trial of bimatoprost and latanoprost. METHODS: Patients were treated bilaterally with bimatoprost (n = 133) or latanoprost (n = 136) for six months. IOP measurements were taken at 8 am, 12 pm, and 4 pm at baseline, week 1, and months 1, 3, and 6. Long-term IOP fluctuation during treatment was determined as the standard deviation (SD) of all 12 follow-up measurements. RESULTS: There was no significant between-group difference in short-term daily IOP fluctuation at baseline. Long-term IOP fluctuation over six months of treatment [mean SD (range SD)] was 1.9 (0.5 to 6.3) mm Hg with latanoprost vs 1.7 (0.5 to 3.9) mm Hg with bimatoprost (P = .050). Latanoprost-treated eyes were more likely than bimatoprost-treated eyes to have long-term IOP fluctuation of >/=3 mm Hg (7.8% vs 2.5% of eyes; P = .009). CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost-treated eyes demonstrated less long-term fluctuation in IOP compared with latanoprost-treated eyes in this six-month study. Additional studies are needed to confirm these findings and to determine their impact on glaucomatous progression.     

Pooled-data analysis of three randomized, double-masked, six-month studies comparing intraocular pressure-reducing effects of latanoprost and timolol in patients with ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: To assess retrospectively the intraocular pressure (IOP)-reducing effect of latanoprost compared with timolol in the subset of patients with ocular hypertension (OH). METHODS: Three randomized, double-masked, multicenter, parallel group, 6-month studies conducted in the United States, United Kingdom, and Scandinavia compared the efficacy and safety of latanoprost and timolol. The present study represents an analysis of the pooled data for the subset of OH patients. Intent-to-treat analyses were based on all randomized OH patients. RESULTS: Of the 441 patients with OH, 247 were treated with latanoprost and 194 were treated with timolol. Baseline mean diurnal IOP levels were 24.4 +/- 0.2 mm Hg (mean +/- standard error of the mean) in the latanoprost group and 24.2 +/- 0.2 mm Hg in the timolol group. Overall, latanoprost lowered mean diurnal IOP by 1.1 +/- 0.2 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.6 to 0.7 mm Hg, P < 0.001) more than timolol. The difference in IOP-lowering ability between the two drugs was not shown to be related to patient sex, age, race, presence or absence of previous treatment of OH, time elapsed since ocular diagnosis, or family history of glaucoma/OH. Percentage reductions from baseline in diurnal IOP levels of at least 20% were achieved by 83% of patients treated with latanoprost versus 62% of those receiving timolol. CONCLUSION: Latanoprost provides superior IOP reduction compared with timolol in patients with OH.     

Potential mechanism for the additivity of pilocarpine and latanoprost

PURPOSE: To determine the ocular hypotensive mechanism underlying the additivity of latanoprost and pilocarpine. METHODS: This randomized, double-masked study included 30 patients with ocular hypertension on no ocular medications for at least 3 weeks. On each of six visits to the clinic, measurements were taken of aqueous flow and outflow facility by fluorophotometry, intraocular pressure by tonometry, and episcleral venous pressure by venomanometry. Uveoscleral outflow was calculated. Clinic visits were scheduled on baseline day; on day 8 of four times daily pilocarpine (2%) to one eye and vehicle to the other; on day 8 of continued pilocarpine/vehicle treatment plus latanoprost (0.005%) once daily to both eyes; after a 3-week washout period; on day 8 of once-daily latanoprost to one eye and vehicle to the other; and on day 8 of continued latanoprost/vehicle treatment plus pilocarpine four times a day to both eyes. Drug-treated eyes were compared with contralateral vehicle-treated eyes and with baseline day by paired t tests. Combined pilocarpine and latanoprost-treated eyes were compared with individual drug-treated eyes and with baseline day using the Bonferroni test. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, pilocarpine reduced intraocular pressure from 18.9 to 16.2 mm Hg (P =.001) and increased outflow facility from 0.18 to 0.23 microl per minute per mm Hg (P =.03). No other parameters were affected. Adding latanoprost further reduced intraocular pressure to 13.7 mm Hg (P <.001) and increased uveoscleral outflow from 0.82 to 1.36 microl per minute (P =.02). Latanoprost alone reduced intraocular pressure from 17.6 to 14.3 mm Hg (P <.0001) and increased uveoscleral outflow from 0.89 to 1.25 microl per minute (P =.05). Adding pilocarpine to the latanoprost treatment further reduced intraocular pressure to 12.7 mm Hg (P <.001) and increased outflow facility from 0.21 to 0.30 microl per minute per mm Hg (P =.03). CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost and pilocarpine predominantly increase uveoscleral outflow and outflow facility, respectively, when given alone. These drugs are additive because pilocarpine does not inhibit the uveoscleral outflow increase induced by latanoprost.     

Relation between axial length of the eye and hypotensive effect of latanoprost in primary open angle glaucoma

AIMS: To study the effect of axial length on the hypotensive effect of latanoprost in primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in a prospective, observational study. METHODS: The authors measured axial length and baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) of 109 eyes with POAG, and then repeated the IOP measurements at 1, 3, and 6 months after starting treatment with latanoprost. RESULTS: The mean IOP level was significantly lower in eyes with a shorter axial length compared with the eyes with a longer axial length both at 3 and 6 months of treatment (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively, ANOVA). CONCLUSION: The hypotensive effect resulting from treatment with latanoprost could be related to ocular axial length.     

Adverse reaction after use of latanoprost in Japanese glaucoma patients

PURPOSE: Although latanoprost has proven to have a strong hypotensive effect, some patients show adverse reactions such as eyelid pigmentation, iridial pigmentation, or hypertrichosis. We prospectively investigated these adverse reactions. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: One hundred and one Japanese glaucoma or ocular hypertension patients were included. Iridial, eyelid, and eyelash photographs were taken before and at 6 months after latanoprost treatment. Increased eyelid pigmentation, iridial pigmentation, eyelash pigmentation, vellus hair of the lid, and hypertrichosis were assessed from these photographs. The correlation between the incidence of these adverse reactions and the time of instillation, type of glaucoma, sex, age, or concomitantly used eye drops, and the overlap of these were evaluated. RESULTS: Increased pigmentation of the eyelid was found in 6 cases(5.9%), of the iris in 32 cases (31.7%), of the eyelashes in 29 cases (28.7%), vellus hair of the lid in 38 cases(37.6%), and hypertrichosis in 51 cases(50.5%). Pigmentation of the eyelid was more frequently observed in patients who used latanoprost concomitantly (16.7%) than in those who did not use anti-glaucomatous eye drops before latanoprost treatment (1.6%), or in those treated with latanoprost who had switched from other anti-glaucomatous eye drops (6.3%) (p= 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of adverse reactions caused by latanoprost was higher in the eyelashes and iris than in the eyelid.     

The effect of latanoprost on intraocular pressure during 2 years of treatment

Our objective was to study the intraocular pressure (IOP) in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients during long-term treatment with latanoprost. A total of 532 patients treated with 0.005% latanoprost were enrolled, including 493 and 113 patients treated for 6 and 24 months, respectively. Mean IOP was analyzed with the analysis of variance technique. The risk of treatment failure was analyzed with survival analysis technique. After 2 weeks of latanoprost treatment, the mean IOP was reduced 8.2 (32%) and 8.9 (34%) mm Hg in the subgroups of patients treated for 6 and 24 months, respectively. The change in mean IOP during 2 years of latanoprost treatment was not statistically significant (p = 0.15). Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension showed an 86% and 97% chance of receiving a sufficient IOP reduction with latanoprost (p < 0.01), repectively. The initial mean IOP reduction was maintained throughout the 2 years of treatment.     

A comparison of intraocular pressure-lowering effect of prostaglandin F2 -alpha analogues, latanoprost, and unoprostone isopropyl.

PURPOSE: To compare the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of unoprostone isopropyl (unoprostone) 0.12% and latanoprost 0.005%. A correlation between the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of unoprostone and latanoprost was also evaluated. METHODS: A single-masked randomized study included 18 patients between 49 and 68 years (mean, 60.7 +/- 5.1 years) with an intraocular pressure of both eyes from 21 to 27 mm Hg. The patients were prospectively randomized to receive latanoprost in the right eye and unoprostone in the left eye, or unoprostone in the right eye and latanoprost in the left eye. The patients were followed up for 8 weeks. This study evaluated the intraocular pressure-lowering effect and incidence of drug-related side effects. RESULTS: Mean baseline intraocular pressure was 22.8 +/- 1.2 mm Hg in latanoprost-treated eyes and 22.4 +/- 1.0 mm Hg in unoprostone-treated eyes; there was no statistically significant difference between these groups. Mean intraocular pressure at 8 weeks after the start of the administration was 16.7 +/- 2.0 mm Hg in latanoprost-treated eyes and 19.0 +/- 1.5 mm Hg in unoprostone-treated eyes. Patients in the latanoprost-treated group showed a greater intraocular pressure reduction compared with those in the unoprostone-treated group. Mean intraocular pressure changes in latanoprost-treated eyes were significantly greater at every visit (P < 0.0001). A change of intraocular pressure at 8 weeks in the latanoprost-treated eyes was significantly correlated with that in the contralateral unoprostone-treated eyes (r = 0.665, P = 0.0013) (Figure). There was no significant difference in the rate of ocular side effects between latanoprost- and unoprostone-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost appears to have a more beneficial effect for intraocular pressure control compared with unoprostone. An intraocular pressure reduction in the latanoprost-treated eyes was significantly correlated with that in the contralateral unoprostone-treated eyes. There was no significant difference in the incidence of ocular side effects between both drugs. Further investigation using more cases and longer follow-up periods are needed.     

Latanoprost versus combined therapy with timolol plus dorzolamide: IOP-lowering effect in open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE: To compare the effect on intraocular pressure of latanoprost versus timolol plus dorzolamide in open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Thirty-five patients with open-angle glaucoma were randomized, 18 to latanoprost once daily and 17 to timolol plus dorzolamide twice daily. Intraocular pressure and ocular side effects were recorded at baseline, and after 2 weeks and 3 months of treatment. RESULTS: Latanoprost reduced the intraocular pressure 1.09 and 1.58 mm Hg more than timolol plus dorzolamide after 2 weeks and 3 months of treatment, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05) at the end of the study. After 3 months of treatment, 32.3% of the eyes in the latanoprost group reduced the intraocular pressure in 30% or more with respect to baseline, while 15.6% of the eyes in the timolol plus dorzolamide group achieved this reduction. CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost administered once daily reduced the intraocular pressure at least as well as timolol plus dorzolamide twice daily in patients with open-angle glaucoma.     

A Prospective Study of Iridial Pigmentation and Eyelash Changes Due to Ophthalmic Treatment with Latanoprost

Purpose To conduct a 12-month prospective study on the occurrence of latanoprost-induced iridial pigmentation and eyelash change in Japanese patients with glaucoma.Methods Seventy-five patients (75 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Photographs of the iris and eyelashes were taken under identical conditions before and after treatment. Three glaucoma specialists assessed the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change independently with no knowledge of patient data. The effects of age, sex, concomitant medication, and type of glaucoma on iridial pigmentation/eyelash change were investigated, and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and iridocorneal angle pigmentation before and after latanoprost treatment were compared between patients with iridial pigmentation/eyelash change and patients without these changes.Results The incidence of iridial pigmentation was 6.3% at 1 month, 15.7% at 3 months, 37.8% at 6 months, and 56.5% at 12 months. The incidence of eyelash change was 0% at 1 month, 33.8% at 3 months, 44.4% at 6 months, and 46.2% at 12 months. Latanoprost did not affect IOP reduction or iridocorneal angle pigmentation. No significant relationship between iridial pigmentation and eyelash change was observed. None of the investigated parameters except age affected the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change.Conclusion Iridial pigmentation and eyelash change occurred at a high frequency in long-term treatment with latanoprost in Japanese glaucoma patients. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2004;48:141–147 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2004     

Short-term effects of latanoprost on anterior chamber depth in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension

PURPOSE: Prostaglandin F(2alpha) analogues, such as latanoprost, may cause a decrease in the extracellular matrices, such as collagen, and changes in fibrillin-1; both are components of the ciliary zonules. However, the mechanical effect of these changes on the dynamics of the ciliary zonules is unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of latanoprost 0.005% on anterior chamber depth (ACD), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), lens thickness, and anterior chamber dynamics in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS: This was a prospective, nonrandomized, autocomparative trial that included 40 patients (40 eyes) with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. ACD was measured with ultrasonography before and after 1 month of treatment with latanoprost. In addition, ACD was measured before and 1 hour after instillation of pilocarpine 2% at baseline and 1 month after treatment with latanoprost. To assess the reproducibility of the ultrasonic measurements, a control group of 20 patients (20 eyes) who did not receive latanoprost was also analyzed. RESULTS: The mean ACD before treatment with latanoprost and before the instillation of pilocarpine was 3.14 +/- 0.46 mm (SD) and after the instillation of pilocarpine, 3.04 +/- 0.46 mm (SD). After 1 month of treatment with latanoprost, ACD was 2.98 +/- 0.44 mm (SD) before instillation of pilocarpine and 2.91 +/-0.49 mm (SD) after instillation of pilocarpine. P < or = 0.05 was reached for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that latanoprost decreases ACD in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension after 1 month of treatment.