LATANOPROST ADMINISTERED ONCE-DAILY CAUSED A MAINTAINED REDUCTION OF INTRAOCULAR-PRESSURE IN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS TREATED CONCOMITANTLY WITH TIMOLOL

The long term effects of two dose regimens of latanoprost (PhXA41) adm inistered to eyes concomitantly treated with timolol which had not ade quately been controlled by timolol alone were compared. A total of 50 patients, 17 with primary open angle glaucoma and 33 with capsular gla ucoma, were recruited from five clinics. Ah had glaucomatous visual he ld defects and an intraocular pressure (IOP) of at least 22 mm Hg desp ite treatment with 0.5% timolol twice daily. Patients were randomised to two treatment groups. In one group 0.006% latanoprost was given twi ce daily, in the other group placebo was given at 8 am and latanoprost at 8 pm for 3 months, with concomitant timolol treatment in both grou ps. Average daytime IOP (mean (SD)) at baseline (on timolol alone) and after 4 and 12 weeks' treatment was 24.8 (3.6), 16.8 (4.3), and 15.7 (2.4) mm Hg respectively with once daily application of latanoprost an d 24.9 (2.9), 18.1 (3.0), and 18.0 (3.6) mm Hg respectively with latan oprost twice daily. No clinically significant side effects were observ ed during treatment. Latanoprost causes a marked and sustained IOP red uction in eyes which are also being treated with timolol. Latanoprost given once daily is at least as effective and probably superior to a t wice daily dose regimen.