Effect of Topical Latanoprost 0.005% Drops on Central Corneal Thickness in Patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the effect of topical 0.005% Latanoprost on central
corneal thickness in patients with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted at Eye “A” unit, Khyber
Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Total sample size was 139 eyes. Baseline IOP
measurement was taken with Goldman applanation tonometer. Central corneal
thickness was measured by a single trained doctor using the Quantel®
Pachymeter. All patients were prescribed Latanoprost 0.005% eye drops once
daily in the evening. Follow up was at 2 weeks and 8 weeks.
Results: Mean age was 52 years with SD ±2.71. Sixty nine (55%) patients were
male and 56 (45%) were female. Mean difference between baseline CCT and
CCT after eight weeks was 4% as mean baseline CCT level was 538 ?m with
SD ± 1.87 and mean CCT level after 8 weeks was 534 ?mwith SD ±2.12.
Efficacy of effect of Latanoprost on central corneal thickness of patients with
primary open angle glaucoma was analyzed as Latanoprost was effective in
reducing CCT in 104 eyes (75%) of 94 patients and was not effective in 35 eyes
(25%) of 31 patients.
Conclusion: Our study concludes that topical 0.005% Latanoprost eye drops
reduces the central corneal thickness, so latanoprost therapy requires careful
monitoring while treating patients with primary open angle glaucoma. However
this reduction in CCT was not ? 25 µm from base line reading which is not
significant enough and hence did not have an effect on IOP reading using
Goldman applanation tonometer.
Key words: Latanoprost, central corneal thickness, Primary Open Angle
Glaucoma.