The influence of Latanoprost 0.005% on the pupil reaction in human eyes

Purpose. Infrared pupillography was performed to investigate the effect of one week topical treatment with the prostaglandin analogue Latanoprost 0,00 5% on pupillary reflex to light stimuli in glaucomatous human eyes. Methods. Infrared pupillography using the compact integrated pupillograph w as performed in 20 glaucomatous eyes of 11 patients. After 10 minutes dark adaptation one pupil was stimulated with a blue,yellow and white diode ligh t of 100 ms duration. Measurements of pupil diameter, constriction latency, constriction amplitude and relative constriction amplitude were taken twic e for each light source in a time interval of 15 seconds. After a 2 week wa sh-out period the measurements were performed from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. befor e and one week after topical treatment with Latanoprost 0.005% applied as s ingle dose once in the evening. Results. The measurements after 1 week treatment with Latanoprost showed a significantly smaller pupil diameter for blue (p=0,044) and white stimulus (p=0,039) and the latency was sign (p=0,029) as well. Conclusions. Although the statistical analysis shows some small significant differences in pupil diameter and constriction latency there were no clini cal signs of changes in pupillary response due to Latanoprost. The system t urned our as easy to use and showed reliable measurements during the study. How far latanoprost may lead to miosis and a decrease of constriction late ncy has to be investigated in further studies with larger study populations . Other topics concerning drug influence, diurnal rhythm and glaucomatous d amage in pupillary light reaction will be investigated in the near future.