Midterm response with latanoprost therapy in german ocular hypertension patients.

Purpose: The purpose of this prospective observational trial was to report the analysis of the midterm efficacy, safety, and discontinuation rates of a cohort of ocular hypertensive patients treated with latanoprost in Germany.

Methods: A subanalysis of patients with ocular hypertension who were previously treated on latanoprost monotherapy and continued within the study on this same medication for at least 6 months.

Results: 353 patients with ocular hypertension were included and treated with latanoprost monotherapy historically (1.4 +/- 1.3 years) and within the observational period of the study for a mean of 2.2 +/- 1.1 years. On latanoprost only, the average intraocular pressure at study entry was 18.4 +/- 2.7 mm Hg, and at 6 months the intraocular pressure was 18.3 +/- 2.3 mmHg (p = 0.54). During the observational period, the most common ocular side effect was conjunctival hyperemia (20.7%), and the most common systemic side effect was fatigue (3.1%). Nineteen patients (5.4%) discontinued latanoprost with the most common reason being insufficient efficacy (3.1%). Physician assessments of latanoprost monotherapy were "very good" to "excellent" for patient efficacy (75.2%), tolerability (83.8%), and patient satisfaction (82.1%).

Conclusions: The study suggests that patients with ocular hypertension already treated with latanoprost monotherapy will continue to have, on average, at least midterm stable pressures, low incidence of side effects and discontinuations, as well as "very good" to "excellent" physician ratings of efficacy, tolerability, and patient satisfaction.