Effects on IOP restoration and blood-aqueous barrier after long-term treatment with latanoprost in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Abstract

To evaluate whether long-term treatment with the prostaglandin analogue latanoprost has a deleterious effect on the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) and to determine the duration of the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) after withdrawal of treatment. Patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma were topically treated with latanoprost 50 micrograms/ml once daily for 6-12 months. In 26 patients IOP was followed for 14 days after withdrawal of treatment. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare meter during 6-12 months' treatment in 16 patients. On the last day of treatment IOP was 6.9 mm Hg (95% CI 5.3-8.5) lower than before treatment. It increased slowly during the follow up period but was still 1.3 mm Hg (95% CI 0.2-2.5) lower than pretreatment IOP 14 days after cessation of treatment. No change in aqueous flare was seen throughout the study. Latanoprost has no clinically significant effect on the permeability of the BAB and IOP will return to pretreatment levels within a few weeks, indicating that latanoprost is safe for long-term treatment.