Effects on IOP restoration and blood-aqueous barrier after long term treatment with latanoprost in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

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 mu g/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 hare 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.