Intraocular pressure and visual field changes in normal-tension glaucoma patients treated using either unoprostone or latanoprost: a prospective comparative study

PURPOSE: We conducted a prospective study in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) who received either isopropyl unoprostone or latanoprost. We compared the drugs in terms of their effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual field loss progression over a 3-year period. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized controlled study. METHODS: We enrolled 48 patients with newly diagnosed NTG at Kanazawa University Hospital. Eligible patients were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive either unoprostone or latanoprost ophthalmic solutions. The primary outcomes were IOP changes and visual field deterioration within 36 months. Visual field changes were analyzed: the cumulative survival rates were calculated in terms of mean deviation, pattern standard deviation, and total deviation of the upper or lower hemi-visual field, each visual field sector, and guided progression analysis. In addition, we evaluated the progression of glaucomatous optic disc changes using fundus photography and confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: The mean pretreatment IOP was 15.0±2.4 mmHg in the Unoprostone group and 15.2±1.9 mmHg in the Latanoprost group. The mean IOP during the treatment period was 13.7±2.3 mmHg in the Unoprostone group and 13.0±1.8 mmHg in the Latanoprost group. In both groups, the IOP decreased significantly (p<0.001) from baseline after treatment. The posttreatment IOP values were significantly lower in the Latanoprost group than in the Unoprostone group (p=0.023). Regarding the 3-year cumulative survival rate of visual field loss progression, there were no significant differences between groups in any parameters of the visual field or guided progression analysis. There were no significant differences between groups in disc changes. CONCLUSIONS: No significant differences were found between groups with regard to the visual field and structural progression in patients with NTG, although unoprostone was less effective than latanoprost in lowering the IOP.