tafluprost and Corneal-Diseases

Glaucoma treatment has often been associated with adverse side-effects from preservatives that are included in the used eye drops.. To evaluate changes in the ocular surface and the presence of prostaglandin-induced corneal disorders after being switched from latanoprost 0.005% to low preservative tafluprost 0.0015% ophthalmic solution.. Single centre, prospective study.. Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension that had received treatment with once daily latanoprost 0.005% ophthalmic solution for control of intraocular pressure (IOP) for 3 months, with a score of above 1 on the National Eye Institute (NEI) ocular surface staining scale.. Following the ≥3 month latanoprost treatment period, patients were switched to once daily low preservative tafluprost 0.0015% ophthalmic solution. Patients were followed for a minimum of 3 months.. Ocular surface changes were assessed by fluorescein staining score (NEI scale). Additional evaluations included tear break-up time, hyperaemia score, subjective symptoms, changes in intraocular pressure and presence of adverse reactions.. Out of 59 patients enrolled, 51 were included in the final analysis. Fluorescein staining scores at baseline, prior to treatment switch, were 6.9 ± 3.1 and 3.3 ± 2.7 at the end of the study period (change in scores was -3.6 ± 2.2 [P < 0.001]). At last follow-up, significant improvements were observed in tear break-up time, hyperaemia score and subjective symptoms (all P < 0.05).. The clinical signs of ocular surface disease and subjective symptoms of dry eyes improved following the switch to low preservative tafluprost and demonstrated comparable IOP lowering effectiveness.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antihypertensive Agents; Benzalkonium Compounds; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Drug Substitution; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Glaucoma, Open-Angle; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Latanoprost; Male; Middle Aged; Ocular Hypertension; Off-Label Use; Ophthalmic Solutions; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Prospective Studies; Prostaglandins F; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult

The benzalkonium chloride (BAK) content of tafluprost ophthalmic solution (Tapros(®): tafluprost) has been reduced to balance corneal safety and preservative effectiveness (old formulation: 0.01%; new formulation: 0.001%). However, no reports have been published on its clinical effect. Therefore, we conducted a clinical research study to compare the safety of BAK-reduced tafluprost on the ocular surface with other prostaglandin ophthalmic solutions.. This clinical study included 28 glaucoma patients (28 eyes) with a treatment history of latanoprost ophthalmic solution (Xalatan(®)) or travoprost ophthalmic solution (Travatan Z(®)), who presented with corneal epithelial disorders. The subjects were switched to BAK-reduced tafluprost, and its effect on the ocular surface was examined after 1 and 2 months of treatment [using fluorescein staining score, hyperemia, tear film breakup time, and intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering].. In all analyzed subjects (N=27), the fluorescein staining score was significantly improved after switching to BAK-reduced tafluprost (P<0.0001). Conversely, the IOP-lowering effect was not notably changed. The subjects switched from latanoprost (n=10) showed significant improvement in fluorescein staining score (P<0.05) as well as in IOP lowering (P<0.01). The subjects switched from travoprost (n=17) also showed significant improvement in fluorescein staining score (P<0.001), but without a significant change in IOP lowering.. Tafluprost with reduced BAK has potential as a superior antiglaucoma drug, not only for its IOP-lowering effect, but also for its good corneal safety profile.

Topics: Aged; Benzalkonium Compounds; Cloprostenol; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Female; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Latanoprost; Male; Ophthalmic Solutions; Preservatives, Pharmaceutical; Prostaglandins; Prostaglandins F; Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; Travoprost