Effects of 0.005% Latanoprost on Optic Nerve Head and Peripapillary Retinal Blood Flow

Abstract

Fifty-two eyes of 26 healthy volunteers were recruited for evaluating the effects of 0.005% latanoprost on optic nerve head (ONH) and peripapillary retinal blood flow. In a randomized double-blind design, one eye received one drop of 0.005% latanoprost and its fellow eye received one drop of a placebo eyedrop. Intraocular pressure (IOP), ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow were measured with Heidelberg retinal flowmetry (HRF) before, 2 and 24 h after administration of eyedrops. IOP was decreased significantly in latanoprost-treated eyes at 2 and 24 h after administration (p < 0.05). In the volume, flow or velocity of ONH and peripapillary retina, there were no significant changes from the baseline values at 2 and 24 h after latanoprost administration in either latanoprost-treated eyes or their fellow eyes (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found in the measured quantities between latanoprost-treated eyes and their fellow eyes at each time point (p > 0.05). This result may suggest that 0.005% latanoprost in healthy subjects does not have any adverse effect on ONH and peripapillary retinal blood flow.

Discriminant Function of Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography to Determine Disease Severity in Glaucoma

“…While some topical medications may increase blood flow, there are no appropriate tools or end points to quantify the effect of medications on blood flow or vascular parameters. 33 Further, most IOP medications have been shown to increase perfusion in the ONH. 33,34 Also, details about systemic medications were not captured.…”

“…33 Further, most IOP medications have been shown to increase perfusion in the ONH. 33,34 Also, details about systemic medications were not captured. Lack of data on systemic parameters such as blood pressure and mean ocular perfusion pressure can be possible confounders.…”

Optic Nerve Head Blood Flow in Glaucoma

“…The effects of prostaglandin (PG) derivatives, beta-blockers, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) on ONH blood flow are summarized below. Regarding latanoprost, a representative PG derivative, some reports showed that it increased ONH blood flow, but others reported that it had no significant effect on ONH blood flow in healthy subjects or in glaucoma patients (Seong et al, 1999;Ishii et al, 2001;Gherghel et al, 2008;Sugiyama et al, 2009). Unoprostone, another PG derivative, reportedly increased ONH blood flow in healthy subjects Makimoto et al, 2002).…”

Pharmacological effects of latanoprost, prostaglandin E2, and F2 α on isolated rabbit ciliary artery

“…While the intraocular pressure-reducing effect of these prostaglandin analogues has been well documented in clinical trials, the microvascular effects are less known. In man, no hemodynamic changes in the retrobulbar or optic nerve head vessels occurred in healthy volunteers after latanoprost treatment [19]. However, it is reported that latanoprost lowered intraocular pressure and increased ocular blood flow in healthy elderly volunteers and normotensive glaucoma patients [8,12].…”