Abstract

AIMS To evaluate whether long term treatment with the prostaglandin analogue latanoprost has a deleterious effect on the blood-aqueous barrier (BAB) and to determine the duration of the effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) after withdrawal of treatment.

METHODS Patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma were topically treated with latanoprost 50 μg/ml once daily for 6–12 months. In 26 patients IOP was followed for 14 days after withdrawal of treatment. Aqueous flare was measured with a laser flare meter during 6–12 months’ treatment in 16 patients.

RESULTS On the last day of treatment IOP was 6.9 mm Hg (95% CI 5.3–8.5) lower than before treatment. It increased slowly during the follow up period but was still 1.3 mm Hg (95% CI 0.2–2.5) lower than pretreatment IOP 14 days after cessation of treatment. No change in aqueous flare was seen throughout the study.

CONCLUSION Latanoprost has no clinically significant effect on the permeability of the BAB and IOP will return to pretreatment levels within a few weeks, indicating that latanoprost is safe for long term treatment.