Latanoprost 0.005% in POAG: effects on IOP and ocular blood flow

The scope of this work was to evaluate the effect on ocular pressure and on ocular blood flow of latanoprost 0.005% eyedrops. Included in the study were 12 patients (24 eyes) with POAG, aged between 37 and 48 years, non-smokers, refractions between +/-3D, Haemorrheological pa rameters within normal, not in ocular or systemic vasoactive therapy. Each patient had one eye treated with latanoprost 0.005% and the other with timo lol 0.05%. The choroidal perfusion was measured by Langham's POBF system du ring the first day of therapy and then after 7, 15, 30, 60, 90 and 180 days . The maximum pressure decrease after the first administration of latanoprost was at the twelfth hour; after 6 months of therapy, mean IOP reduction was 32.6%. POBF values increased up to 55.8% in the first day and then settled at 22.6% at the end of the study. Timolol showed a similar pressure progre ss, but its haematic perfusion values were distinctly lower. In conclusion, latanoprost is efficacious in POAG therapy since it unites a positive optic nerve head perfusion effect with hypotensive efficacy.