title: Clinical experience in the treatment of normal tension glaucoma with latanoprost in Germany.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this analysis was to evaluate the general ophthalmologist's experience in using latanoprost to treat normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  NTG patients included in this study were part of an observational cohort of patients that were changed from previous therapy to latanoprost in Germany.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 200 NTG glaucoma patients who were being treated with latanoprost monotherapy (average duration, 1.2 +/- 1.4 years) and had 6 months of follow-up. At the beginning of the observation period, patients had an average intraocular pressure (IOP) of 15.2 +/- 2.5 mmHg and after 6 months, 15.0 +/- 2.4 mmHg (P = 0.769). Eight (8) patients (4.0%) were discontinued from latanoprost during the observation period, with the most common reason noted as the need for further IOP reduction (n = 7; 3.5%). Twenty-four (24) patients (12.0%) noted at least one ocular adverse event during the observation period, with the most common reason noted as burning/stinging (n = 9; 4.5%) or conjunctival hyperemia (n = 9; 4.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that patients with NTG who are already treated with latanoprost monotherapy should continue to have, over a short-term follow-up, generally stable IOPs, low side-effect incidence, and discontinuations, as well as "very good" to "excellent" physician ratings of patient efficacy, tolerability, and satisfaction.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Thelen
authors.forename: Winfried
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weiler
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kirchhoff
authors.forename: Heinz-Bernhard
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005858:Germany; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost