The effect of once-daily latanoprost on intraocular pressure and pulsatile ocular blood flow in normal tension glaucoma.

Objective: To determine the effect of once-daily 0.005% latanoprost on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).

Methods: The diurnal IOP and sitting POBF were determined for 32 eyes of 19 NTG patients after a washout period. The subjects were treated with 0.005% latanoprost for 3-4 weeks and the measurements repeated. Statistical analysis was performed using the Wilcoxon signed rank test.

Results: Median IOP before and after treatment were 19 and 15 mmHg respectively (p < 0.001). The IOP reduction correlated with the initial IOP before treatment (p < 0.01) and was accompanied by an increase in median POBF from 656 to 796 microliters/min (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Once-daily treatment with 0.005% latanoprost provides a significant and stable IOP reduction in the majority of NTG patients after short-term treatment. This is accompanied by a significant increase in POBF.