Purpose: To evaluate the long-term effect of latanoprost on central corneal thickness (CCT) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG).
Methods: This was a retrospective study and included 166 eyes of 166 patients [128 with NTG and 38 with glaucoma suspect, suspicious discs with normal visual fields, and an intraocular pressure (IOP) ≤21 mmHg as the control group]. Patients with newly diagnosed NTG and who had not had previous topical glaucomatous treatment were followed ≥24 months and received latanoprost 0.005% monotherapy once a day. CCT measurements were performed with an ultrasound pachymeter. CCT measurements before treatment and 24 months after treatment were analyzed.
Results: There were no significant differences between the latanoprost group and the control group with respect to sex, age, baseline IOP, and CCT. A statistically significant reduction in the mean CCT was observed in the latanoprost group [535.5 ± 37.9 vs. 530.1 ± 36.4 μm (n = 128), P < 0.01], but not in the control group [543.1 ± 40.2 vs. 542.6 ± 37.0 μm (n = 38), P = 0.786].
Conclusions: Long-term use of latanoprost may decrease the CCT in patients with NTG. Therefore, clinicians must be aware of longitudinal CCT variations that may arise throughout the follow-up period for proper IOP targeting and management.