The aim of the study was to assess efficacy and side effects of latanoprost during two years of treatment.
The study was a randomized, parallel group, double-masked, multicenter comparison between latanoprost and timolol in patients with open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, followed by an open-label 18-month extension during which all patients were treated with latanoprost.
Latanoprost caused a marked and sustained reduction of the intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP was reduced from baseline levels 25.1+/-3.5 mm Hg (mean+/-SD) in 183 patients initially randomized to treatment with latanoprost to 17.4+/-2.9 mm Hg (n=66) after 24 months of treatment. For patients initially randomized to treatment with timolol the corresponding figures were 24.3+/-2.3 mm Hg (n=72) and 17.4+/-2.6 (n=41) mm Hg after 18 months of treatment with latanoprost. Two patients were withdrawn because of uncontrolled IOP and 11 patients required additional timolol treatment to maintain an adequate IOP control. Patients initially treated with timolol and switched to latanoprost had a further reduction of the IOP of 1.0 mm Hg after 6 months of treatment with latanoprost (p