Correlation between individual differences in intraocular pressure reduction and outflow facility due to latanoprost in normal-tension glaucoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
The amount of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction achieved by the use of latanoprost eyedrops varies among patients, and there are even nonresponders. This report examines whether there is any correlation between the amount of individual variability in IOP reduction and the uveoscleral outflow facility after latanoprost eyedrop instillation in normal-tension glaucoma patients.


METHODS
Sixteen normal-tension glaucoma patients (mean age, 56.4 years) were enrolled in the study to investigate the relationship between the amount of IOP reduction and outflow facility. Before treatment, subjects underwent circadian IOP measurement and then tonography, and the outflow facility was calculated. Subsequently, patients began treatment once daily with latanoprost instillation in one eye. After 4 weeks of daily latanoprost treatment, circadian IOP was measured again.


RESULTS
Mean pretreatment outflow facility was 0.23 +/- 0.05 microl/min per mmHg. On average, latanoprost instillation decreased IOP by 2.8 mmHg, but the reduction varied among individuals from -0.3 mmHg to 5.8 mmHg. No significant correlation was noted between the outflow facility and the IOP decline associated with latanoprost.


CONCLUSIONS
Because there was no significant correlation between individual IOP reduction by latanoprost and outflow facility, the differences in substantial change in uveoscleral outflow after latanoprost administration may be one explanation for the individual variation in IOP reduction after treatment with this drug.
Kondo
Nobuhiko
N
Department of Ophthalmology, Gifu University School of Medicine, Gifu, Japan. kondo-nobuhiko@umin.ac.jp
Sawada
Akira
A
Yamamoto
Tetsuya
T
Taniguchi
Toru
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D014129:Trabecular Meshwork / Q000378:metabolism
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost