The efficacy and safety of once-daily versus once-weekly latanoprost treatment for increased intraocular pressure

We evaluated the efficacy and safety of latanoprost eye drops once-weekly, compared to once-daily for improving patient compliance. Twenty (20) patients (11 women and 9 men), 12 with ocular hypertension and 8 with early glaucoma, were studied after washout of the antiglaucoma treatment. One (1) group was treated with latanoprost once-daily (control). The other group was treated once-weekly (study group). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at baseline and on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 9th day after the last drop in the study group, and for 3 months on the same schedule thereafter. The mean baseline IOP was 24.3 +/- 3.9 mmHg in the study group (range, 18-29) and 24.4 +/- 4.4 mmHg in the control group (range, 17-32). The average IOP at all time points of post-treatment was 17.7 +/- 1.5 mmHg (range, 14-23) and 16.9 +/- 2.30 mmHg (range, 13-21), respectively. Latanoprost significantly lowered IOP in both groups (study group, p = 0.005; controls, p = 0.0019). The difference between post-treatment IOP was insignificant in both groups at each time point. The study group had fewer minor side effects than the control group (1/10 versus 6/10, respectively). Latanoprost treatment once-weekly was as effective, and bore fewer minor side effects, as once-daily treatment after 3 months of follow-up.