Central Corneal Thickness During Treatment With Travoprost 0.004% in Glaucoma Patients

Purpose: Experimental studies demonstrated an alteration of corneal collagen structure by prostaglandin analogues. The possible effect of the prostaglandin F(2 alpha) analogue travoprost 0.004% on the central corneal thickness (CCT) in newly diagnosed glaucoma patients was evaluated. Methods: Consecutive, interventional case series. Seventy-four patients/136 eyes with glaucoma were included in the statistical analysis. All patients received travoprost 0.004% (Travatan (R)) once daily in one or both eyes. CCT was measured by using noncontact optical low-coherence reflectometry prior to the treatment and after 6 and 12 months. Results: Mean CCT of all treated eyes (n = 136) was 546.71 +/- 34.63 mu m at baseline, 535.14 +/- 34.78 mu m after 6 months, and 532.38 +/- 34.18 mu m after 12 months (ANOVA, P < 0.001). Ninety-five percent of all treated eyes showed a decrease of CCT. CCT reduction mainly developed within the first 6 months of the treatment period. After 12 months, a CCT reduction > 30 mu m occurred in 5.1% of all treated eyes. There was a significant correlation between the magnitude of corneal thinning and the initial CCT but not between corneal thinning and IOP reductions. Conclusions: Topical therapy with the prostaglandin derivate travoprost is accompanied by a significant reduction of CCT within one year of treatment. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the possible long-term effects of prostaglandins on the CCT of glaucoma patients.