title: Tafluprost for glaucoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is, at present, the only therapeutic approach to the treatment of glaucoma. Good compliance is essential in every chronic therapy; therefore, the development of IOP-lowering eye drops that are well tolerated and have an easy administration schedule is essential for the treatment of glaucoma. Prostaglandins are a first-choice drug class for the treatment of glaucoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review provides a background on tafluprost, a newly synthesized prostaglandin analogue, and summarizes the existing data on its efficacy and safety, including comparative data with the other prostaglandin derivatives now available on the market. A review of the literature was performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Current research focuses not only on the efficacy of the drugs but also on their tolerability. The importance of obtaining good compliance by the patient is increasingly relevant; therefore, new formulations are studied to provide fewer side effects and an easier schedule. Tafluprost is a new prostaglandin analogue that has been marketed in some European countries and in Japan for more than 2 years and was recently (July 2009) approved in 21 countries. Besides a well-demonstrated IOP-lowering effect, tafluprost is the first topical prostaglandin available as a preservative-free formulation.
authors.affiliation: University of Genova, Eye Clinic, Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, Viale Benedetto XV, 5, 16148 Genova, Italy.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Papadia
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bagnis
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scotto
authors.forename: Carlo E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Traverso
mesh_terms: D060433:Administration, Ophthalmic; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D011460:Prostaglandins F; C485333:tafluprost