LATANOPROST TREATMENT FOR GLAUCOMA - EFFECTS OF TREATING FOR 1 YEAR AND OF SWITCHING FROM TIMOLOL

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy and safety of latanoprost treatment for 1 year in glaucoma patients, and to evaluate the effects of switc hing from timolol to latanoprost therapy. METHODS: Latanoprost 0.005% was topically applied once daily without masking for 6 months in 223 p atients with elevated intraocular pressure after previous treatment wi th latanoprost once daily or 0.5% timolol twice daily for 6 months in a multicenter, randomized, double masked, parallel group study. RESULT S: Compared with baseline values before treatment, a significant (P < .0001) diurnal reduction in intraocular pressure of 6 to 8 mm Hg was m aintained with minimal fluctuation for the duration of treatment. When treatment was switched from timolol to latanoprost, intraocular press ure was reduced by 1.5 +/- 0.3 mm Hg (mean +/- SEM; 8% change in intra ocular pressure; 31% of the intraocular pressure reduction produced by timolol; P < .001) compared with the change in intraocular pressure i n patients remaining on latanoprost therapy. Of the patients initially enrolled, 95% successfully completed treatment. There was a slight ov erall increase in conjunctival hyperemia in patients who switched from timolol to latanoprost, but no change in those who continued latanopr ost. The timolol-induced reduction of resting heart rate returned to b aseline levels after switching to latanoprost. Of the 247 patients tre ated with latanoprost during the masked and/or open label studies, 12 (5%) demonstrated a definite (n = 4) or possible (n = 8) increase in i ris pigmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Latanoprost is a well-tolerated ocular hypotensive agent that appears to be more effective than timolol in re ducing intraocular pressure. The increase in iris pigmentation appears to be harmless but requires further investigation. (C) 1998 by Elsevi er Science Inc. All rights reserved.