Efficacy and safety of switching from topical latanoprost to bimatoprost in patients with normal-tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of bimatoprost in Japanese patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) who showed insufficient response to latanoprost. METHODS: A prospective, nonrandomized study was conducted in patients with NTG, with ≤20% intraocular pressure (IOP) decrease from pretreatment baseline with latanoprost monotherapy who had been switched to bimatoprost. The IOP was measured at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the switch to bimatoprost. In 12 weeks after the switch to bimatoprost, efficacy and safety were evaluated. RESULTS: Postswitch to bimatoprost, IOP was significantly reduced at every visit. Bimatoprost produced significantly greater mean% IOP reduction rate from pretreatment than that of latanoprost at week 12 (P<0.01). There was a significant correlation between% IOP reduction of bimatoprost and that of latanoprost (Pearson r(2)=0.374; P=0.007). No significant difference was observed in the mean scores of conjunctival hyperemia and corneal epithelial disorder between bimatoprost-treated eyes and latanoprost-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: Significant additional IOP lowering was achieved by switching to bimatoprost in Japanese patients with NTG with insufficient response to latanoprost. Bimatoprost treatment was safe and well tolerated.