Does using topical latanoprost affect subfoveal choroidal thickness?

Purpose: The aim of our prospective study was to investigate the effect of using latanoprost eye drops on subfoveal choroidal thickness in the macular area, as measured by using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). Materials and methods: A total of 39 eyes from 39 patients with bilateral glaucoma or ocular hypertension who had never received hypotensive therapy (study group) and 39 eyes from 39 age- and gender-matched healthy individuals (control group) were included in this study. The EDI-OCT measurements of subfoveal choroidal thickness were obtained during an initial visit before latanoprost therapy and at visits after 1 and 3 months of latanoprost therapy. Results: The mean subfoveal choroidal thickness was 309.5 +/- 38.5 mu m before latanoprost therapy in the study group and 307.3 +/- 31.8 mu m in the control group (p = .794). During latanorprost therapy in the study group, mean values of subfoveal choroidal thickness at the initial visit and at intervals of 1 and 3 months were 309.5 +/- 38.5 mu m, 314.2 +/- 39.7 mu m, and 318.3 +/- 33.4 mu m, respectively, which indicated a statistically significant difference between the initial and third visits only (p=.002). Conclusion: Subfoveal choroidal thickness increased after 3 months of topical latanoprost therapy.