ABSTRACT
AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term follow-up of patients who were changed to latanoprost from previous glaucoma therapies. METHODS: Primary open-angle, exfoliative or chronic angle-closure glaucoma, or ocular hypertensive patients who switched to latanoprost therapy with a 2-year follow-up, were evaluated for efficacy, safety, and continuance of therapy. RESULTS: In 1,571 patients, the intraocular pressure (IOP) across all treatment groups of 21.3 +/- 4.1 was reduced to 17.6 +/- 3.2 mm Hg after switching to latanoprost. Latanoprost reduced the IOP from previous monotherapies, including nonselective beta-adrenergic blockers, topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha-adrenergic agonists and pilocarpine (p < 0.0001) and adjunctive therapies, including the fixed combinations of dorzolamide and timolol, pilocarpine and timolol, and pilocarpine and metipranolol, and the unfixed combination of dorzolamide and timolol and dorzolamide and clonidine (p < 0.0028). Latanoprost further reduced the IOP across all diagnostic groups (p < 0.0001). The most common ocular adverse event was ocular irritation (n = 25; 1.6%), which was also the most common reason given for patients who discontinued latanoprost because of an adverse event (n = 20; 1.3%). CONCLUSIONS: The mean IOP was maintained at an acceptable level throughout the 2-year follow-up period on latanoprost. Latanoprost generally provides further reduction of IOP when switched from previous mono- and adjunctive therapies, with a low rate of side effects and discontinuations.
