Latanoprot treatment for glaucoma: effect of treating for 1 year and of witching from timolol Original Reearch Article

PURPOE To determine the efficacy and afety of latanoprot treatment for 1 year in glaucoma patient, and to evaluate the effect of witching from timolol to latanoprot therapy. METHOD Latanoprot 0.005% wa topically applied once daily without making for 6 month in 223 patient with elevated intraocular preure after previou treatment with latanoprot once daily or 0.5% timolol twice daily for 6 month in a multicenter, randomized, double-maked, parallel group tudy. REULT Compared with baeline value before treatment, a ignificant (P < .0001) diurnal reduction in intraocular preure of 6 to 8 mm Hg wa maintained with minimal fluctuation for the duration of treatment. When treatment wa witched from timolol to latanoprot, intraocular preure wa reduced by 1.5 ± 0.3 mm Hg (mean ± EM; 8% change in intraocular preure; 31% of the intraocular preure reduction produced by timolol; P < .001) compared with the change in intraocular preure in patient remaining on latanoprot therapy. Of the patient initially enrolled, 95% uccefully completed treatment. There wa a light overall increae in conjunctival hyperemia in patient who witched from timolol to latanoprot, but no change in thoe who continued latanoprot. The timolol-induced reduction of reting heart rate returned to baeline level after witching to latanoprot. Of the 247 patient treated with latanoprot during the maked and/or open-label tudie, 12 (5%) demontrated a definite (n = 4) or poible (n = 8) increae in iri pigmentation. CONCLUION Latanoprot i a well-tolerated ocular hypotenive agent that appear to be more effective than timolol in reducing intraocular preure. The increae in iri pigmentation appear to be harmle but require further invetigation.