Additional reduction in Intraocular pressure achieved with latanoprost in normal-tension glaucoma patients previously treated with unoprostone

Purpose: To determine whether treatment with latanoprost eye drops is able to further reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients whose IOP has been well controlled with unoprostone. Patients and Methods: A total of 34 eyes (34 individuals) with NTG that had been treated with 0.12% unoprostone eye drops twice daily for >= 3 months were switched to treatment once daily with eye drops containing 0.005% latanoprost. IOP was measured before and 1, 2, and 3 months after the switch to latanoprost. Results: The mean IOP of all eyes was decreased significantly by 1.8, 2.9, and 2.3 mmHg at 1, 2, and 3 months after the switch from unoprostone to latanoprost treatment. The IOP of patients with an initial IOP of <= 12 or > 12mmHg was reduced by 11.0 or 19.9%, respectively, after 3 months on latanoprost. The IOP of 30 (88.2%) of the 34 eyes was further reduced by the switch from unoprostone to latanoprost. Conclusions: Latanoprost reduced the IOP of NTG patients who had already been treated with unoprostone, even though both drugs are prostaglandin-related. Switching to latanoprost might thus achieve a maximal decrease in IOP and thereby better prevent damage to the optic nerve and loss of visual field in NTG patients.