Diurnal IOP-lowering efficacy and safety of travoprost 0.004% compared with tafluprost 0.0015% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension

Travoprost- and Tafluprost-induced Changes in Intraocular Pressure and Ocular Pulse Amplitude

Purpose: To compare the intraocular pressure reduction and changes in ocular pulse amplitude of travoprost 0.003% and tafluprost 0.0015%. Methods: We assessed patients who were diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma from January 2017 to July 2019 for the first time at our hospital. Forty-two eyes were assigned to the travoprost group (23 patients) and 26 eyes were assigned to the tafluprost group (14 patients). Changes in intraocular pressure were measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT), and corrected ocular pulse amplitude (cOPA) was measured using dynamic contour tonometry. Changes in these parameters were observed and compared for 1 year. Results: No significant differences were observed between the GAT measurements and the cOPA of patients treated with travoprost and tafluprost for 1 year (<i>p</i> = 0.512, <i>p</i> = 0.105). The change in initial intraocular pressure on GAT observed after 1 week was -5.32 ± 2.63 mmHg for travoprost and -3.79 ± 3.19 mmHg for tafluprost (<i>p</i> = 0.0457). The initial change in cOPA was +0.04 ± 0.9 mmHg in the travoprost group and -0.76 ± 0.97 mmHg in the tafluprost group (<i>p</i> = 0.0028). Conclusions: Travoprost and tafluprost reached the targeted intraocular pressure with no difference in the long-term effects of reduced intraocular pressure. However, travoprost was initially better at lowering intraocular pressure faster, and tafluprost had a greater effect on lowering OPA. Prostaglandin analogs can be selected individually by considering the aforementioned factors.

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Tafluprost, Travoprost, and Latanoprost in Korean Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Normal-Tension Glaucoma: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study (LOTUS Study)

This multicenter retrospective cohort study compared the effectiveness and safety of long-term tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Data were extracted from electronic medical records of 300 patients treated with tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost for >6 months. Propensity matching for age and sex was used for effectiveness and safety comparisons. The primary endpoint was visual field (VF) progression via mean deviation (MD) slope. Secondary endpoints were change of MD, intraocular pressure, pattern standard deviation, VF index, and advanced glaucoma intervention study score. Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were also compared between groups. Overall, 216 POAG or NTG patients were matched into Match Set 1 (72 patients/group), and 177 NTG-only patients in Match Set 2 (59 patients/group) according to: age (mean: 61, 62 years) and sex (male: 53, 56%). There were no statistically significant between-group differences regarding MD slope (p = 0.413, p = 0.374 in Match Sets 1 and 2, respectively). There were no significant between-group differences/tendencies regarding secondary endpoints. No AEs were serious, and there were no significant between-group differences regarding reported AEs. In patients with POAG or NTG, long-term tafluprost, travoprost, or latanoprost showed similar effects. All three prostaglandin analogs had good long-term safety profiles.

Comparison between Latanoprost, Travoprost, and Tafluprost in reducing intraocular pressure fluctuations in patients with glaucoma

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacies of latanoprost 0.005%, travoprost 0.004%, and tafluprost 0.0015% in reducing diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations in patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

In this prospective randomized clinical trial, 60 patients who were newly diagnosed with POAG were divided into three equal groups. Patients were examined at presentation and at second and sixth weeks. Diurnal phasing of IOP was conducted using a calibrated Goldmann applanation tonometer. IOP measurements were recorded from 8:00 am to 9:00 am, from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm, and from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

RESULTS

The study groups were distributed similarly in terms of age and gender (p-values: 0.76) and the participants had a mean age of 52.98 ± 13.43 years. The IOP at the day of inclusion was not statistically significant among the three groups (p-values 0.27, 0.51, and 0.64 at 8 am, 2 pm, and 8 pm, respectively). Similar nonsignificant differences were noticed on the follow-up visits. However, the tafluprost group showed a significant reduction in IOP on the follow-up visit at the second week at 8 pm (30.5% reduction, p-value: 0.03). All three drugs showed a comparable and significant reduction in IOP and IOP fluctuations. The pattern of side effects was similar in all the groups.

CONCLUSION

Latanoprost, travoprost, and tafluprost show a similar effectiveness in reducing the mean IOP and the diurnal IOP fluctuation in POAG. Importantly, the three drugs have comparable tolerability with insignificant differences regarding the pattern of their side effects.

Preservative-Free Prostaglandin Analogs and Prostaglandin/Timolol Fixed Combinations in the Treatment of Glaucoma: Efficacy, Safety and Potential Advantages

Glaucoma therapy-related ocular surface disease (OSD) is a serious pathology with a broad spectrum of insidious clinical presentations and complex pathogenesis that undermines long-term glaucoma care. Preservatives, especially benzalkonium chloride (BAK), contained in topical intraocular pressure-lowering medications frequently cause or aggravate OSD in glaucoma. Management of these patients is challenging, and to date often empirical due to the scarcity of controlled long-term clinical trials. Most of the available data are extracted from case series and retrospective analysis. Preservative-free prostaglandins and prostaglandin/timolol fixed combinations are novel options developed to remove the harmful impact of preservatives, especially BAK, upon ocular tissues. Based on what is currently known on the value of preservative-free antiglaucoma therapies it is tempting to speculate how these new therapies may affect the future medical management of all glaucoma patients. This article provides a comprehensive and critical review of the current literature on preservative-free prostaglandins and preservative-free prostaglandin/timolol fixed combinations.

Comparison of Efficacy and Ocular Surface Disease Index Score between Bimatoprost, Latanoprost, Travoprost, and Tafluprost in Glaucoma Patients

Aim

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 4 prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) and to determine the incidence of ocular surface disease in newly diagnosed, primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients started on one of those 4 PGAs: bimatoprost (benzalkonium chloride, BAK, 0.3 mg/mL), latanoprost (BAK 0.2 mg/mL), travoprost (polyquad), and tafluprost (BAK-free).

Patients and Methods

In this single-center, open-label trial, 32 patients newly diagnosed with POAG were randomly started on one of the four PGAs. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological exam at presentation and at 1, 3, and 6 months of follow-up. Dry eye disease (DED) was assessed using the original Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire, in order to evaluate the impact of the drops on the quality of life of patients.

Results

The mean age was 60.06 years ± 11.76. All four drugs equally and significantly reduced the intraocular pressure (IOP) with respect to the baseline IOP. There was a trend for a slightly greater reduction of IOP with bimatoprost, but the difference was not found to be statistically significant when compared to other PGAs. OSDI scores were significantly superior for travoprost (10.68 ± 5.73) compared to the other three drugs (p < 0.05). Latanoprost caused the most significant eyelash growth and iris discoloration. Conjunctival hyperemia and superficial keratitis occurrence were similar in the four groups.

Conclusion

All prostaglandin analogues equally and significantly reduce the IOP in patients with POAG. According to the results of the OSDI score, latanoprost seems to be the least tolerated among the four drugs.

Optimal sampling scheme for estimation of intraocular pressure diurnal curves in glaucoma trials

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Effective control of intraocular pressure (IOP) is essential for the successful management of glaucoma. IOP exhibits diurnal variation, yet continuous monitoring is impractical. To date, no clear evidence exists on the number of sampling timepoints required to characterize diurnal IOP and when those measurements should be collected. The objective of this study was to develop an optimized sampling scheme to estimate diurnal IOP and to provide sampling windows for practicality.

METHODS

Baseline IOP values for glaucoma patients were collected from the published literature. A population model-based meta-analysis was performed to develop a model for diurnal IOP that accounts for covariates and inter-study variability. Optimization was performed using the D-optimality criteria to determine optimal sampling times. In addition, various reduced sampling designs were tested to investigate the minimum number of sampling timepoints to precisely estimate diurnal IOP. Also, sampling windows were calculated around the final optimal sampling times to allow flexibility in data collection. The final reduced optimized model was validated by simulating and estimating 500 datasets with reduced optimal sampling times.

RESULTS

The final baseline IOP model included type of glaucoma as a covariate. Bootstrap analysis and visual predictive check plots revealed the adequacy of the model to describe the observed IOP data. Optimization results indicated an increasing trend in bias with decreasing sampling timepoints. A reduced model with four sampling times resulted in acceptable precision (<40 %). Restricting the sampling time between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. underestimates the fluctuation in diurnal IOP. Sampling windows with ≥95 % efficiency were calculated around the optimized sampling times. Validation results indicated acceptable precision and relative bias for model estimates in the reduced optimized model.

CONCLUSION

A physiologically based mechanistic model was developed to describe the diurnal variation in baseline IOP and inter-study variability was estimated on key diurnal model parameters. Optimization of the final covariate model indicated a reduced sampling time of at least four samples should be collected at 5:45 a.m., 2:15 p.m., 8:00 p.m., and 12:00 a.m. for reliable estimation of diurnal IOP variation.

The circadian changes of intraocular pressure and ocular perfusion pressure after tafluprost compared with travoprost in normal tension glaucoma

PURPOSE

To compare the 24-h changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and mean ocular perfusion pressure (MOPP) obtained with tafluprost versus travoprost in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG).

METHODS

This study is a randomized crossover study of 50 patients newly diagnosed with NTG who received either tafluprost or travoprost given once at 9 PM for 2 months, after which they were crossed over to the other medication for another 2 months. IOP and blood pressure were measured for 24 h before starting the treatment and after finishing the first and second treatment periods.

RESULTS

Forty-one patients completed the study. The mean (±standard deviation) 24-h IOP was 16.8±2.0 mmHg at baseline, 14.4±2.2 mmHg on tafluprost, and 13.6±1.8 mmHg on travoprost. Both prostaglandin monotherapies significantly reduced mean 24-h IOP as compared with baseline (P<0.001, P<0.001, respectively), and travoprost demonstrated a lower mean 24-h IOP than tafluprost (P=0.044). Both treatments significantly reduced the IOP from baseline at every point over 24 h. At 3 individual time points, travoprost provided a lower IOP than tafluprost: at 4 PM (13.8±2.7 vs. 14.8±2.6 mmHg, P=0.041), at 6 PM (13.5±2.5 vs. 14.4±2.5 mmHg, P=0.006), and at 8 PM (13.3±2.5 vs. 14.5±2.4 mmHg, P=0.029). Both tafluprost and travoprost significantly increased the 24-h MOPP (P=0.008, P=0.002, respectively), and travoprost demonstrated a greater 24-h MOPP than tafluprost (P=0.027).

CONCLUSIONS

Both tafluprost and travoprost were effective in lowering IOP and increasing MOPP throughout 24 h in NTG. However, travoprost reduced IOP greater than tafluprost in the late afternoon and evening.

Comparative Efficacy and Tolerability of Topical Prostaglandin Analogues for Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

Objective: To systematically review the efficacy and tolerability of 4 prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) as first-line monotherapies for intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering in adult patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Data Sources: A literature search was performed in PubMed (1965-June 2013) and the Cochrane Library (1980-June 2013) using the search terms ocular hypertension, open-angle glaucoma, prostaglandin analogues, bimatoprost, latanoprost, tafluprost, and travoprost. Additional studies were searched from the reference lists of identified publications. Study Selection and Data Extraction: In all, 32 randomized controlled trials comparing between PGAs (bimatoprost 0.03%, latanoprost 0.005%, tafluprost 0.0015%, and travoprost 0.004%) or PGA with timolol were selected. Data Synthesis: A network meta-analysis was conducted. Using timolol as reference, the relative risks (RRs) of achieving treatment success, defined as the proportion of patients achieving at least 30% IOP reduction, with 95% CIs, were as follows: bimatoprost, 1.59 (1.28-1.98); latanoprost, 1.32 (1.00-1.74); travoprost, 1.33 (1.03-1.72); and tafluprost, 1.10 (0.85-1.42). The mean IOP reductions after 1 month were 1.98 (1.50-2.47), 1.01 (0.55-1.46), 1.08 (0.59-1.57), and 0.46 (−0.41 to 1.33) mm Hg, respectively, and the results were sustained at 3 months. Bimatoprost was associated with the highest risk of developing hyperemia, whereas latanoprost had the lowest risk, with RRs (95% CI) of 4.66 (3.49-6.23) and 2.30 (1.76-3.00), respectively. Conclusions: Bimatoprost achieved the highest efficacy in terms of IOP reduction, whereas latanoprost had the most favorable tolerability profile. This review serves to guide selection of the optimal PGA agent for individual patient care in clinical practice.

Glaucoma management: relative value and place in therapy of available drug treatments

Lowering intraocular pressure (IOP) is the only proven therapeutic intervention for glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Despite advances in laser and microsurgical techniques, medical IOP reduction remains the first-line treatment option for the majority of patients with open-angle glaucoma. Prostaglandin analogs are the most efficacious topical agents and carry a remarkable safety profile. Topical beta-blockers, alpha-agonists, and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are often employed as adjunctive agents for further IOP control. Newer preserved and nonpreserved formulations are available and appear to be less toxic to the ocular surface. Oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, miotic agents, and hyperosmotics are infrequently used due to a host of potentially serious adverse events. Medical therapies on the horizon include rho-kinase inhibitors, neuroprotective interventions, and gene therapies.

Prospective observational post-marketing study of tafluprost for glaucoma and ocular hypertension: short-term efficacy and safety

INTRODUCTION

This study investigated the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects and safety of tafluprost ophthalmic solution 0.0015% in actual clinical practice.

METHODS

We started a mandatory prospective 2-year observational study, which collected IOP, conjunctival hyperemia score, corneal staining score, and adverse event data from glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OH) patients not previously treated with tafluprost at 2, 12, and 24 months. This report analyzes the 2-month findings.

RESULTS

Of the 4,180 patients from 553 medical institutions in Japan, most patients had primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG, 38.1%) or normal-tension glaucoma (NTG, 44.2%). After 2 months of tafluprost administration, IOP was significantly reduced by 4.3 ± 5.2 mmHg in POAG, 2.4 ± 2.5 mmHg in NTG, 3.6 ± 5.3 mmHg in primary angle-closure glaucoma, 5.6 ± 7.1 mmHg in other types of glaucoma, and 5.3 ± 4.8 mmHg in OH. IOP was significantly reduced by 4.3 ± 4.0 mmHg in the naïve monotherapy group, 1.9 ± 3.5 mmHg in switching from prior treatment, and 3.7 ± 4.1 mmHg in the add-on therapy group. Among patients switched, the prostaglandin analog (PGA) latanoprost was the previous predominant drug (57.4%), followed by travoprost (13.8%). Significant IOP reductions were observed by 1.5 ± 3.4 mmHg in switching from latanoprost and 1.3 ± 3.7 mmHg in switching from travoprost. The conjunctival hyperemia score peaked at 1 month in the naïve monotherapy and add-on therapy groups, whereas it was significantly decreased in patients switched from another PGA. The corneal staining score showed no particular changes. Incidence of adverse drug reaction (ADR) was 7.70 % (322/4,180 patients), and all major ADRs involved the eyes or skin around the eyes.

CONCLUSION

Tafluprost showed significant IOP-lowering effects without any safety concerns in patients with various types of glaucoma and OH in daily clinical practice and tafluprost is highly effective in any therapeutic patterns.

Incidence of deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus on treatment with a tafluprost ophthalmic solution

PURPOSE

Deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus (DUES), one symptom of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy, was recently found to be an additional side effect of prostaglandin-related ophthalmic solutions. Here, we prospectively investigated the incidence and factors associated with DUES in Japanese open-angle glaucoma patients initially treated with benzalkonium chloride (BAK)-preserved tafluprost (TAF).

METHODS

In this open-label prospective study instilling TAF in one eye, mean deviation (MD) and intraocular pressure (IOP) were measured, and facial photographs and subjective reports of DUES were obtained at intervals over 6 months. Three ophthalmologists independently assessed the photographs of DUES and reached consensus. Relationships between demographic and ocular/systemic factors (age, sex, MD, refraction and IOP reduction) and DUES occurrence were evaluated.

RESULTS

Forty-three eyes of 43 glaucoma patients (24 men and 19 women) were evaluated. Mean IOP before treatment was 16.6 ± 2.7 and after treatment, 14.1 ± 2.3 mmHg (P < 0.001). The objective rate of DUES was 9 % (4/43) at 2 months, 14 % (6/43) at 4 months and 14 % (6/43) at 6 months. During this period, only one patient self-reported an occurrence of DUES. No significant association was found between DUES occurrence and any of the demographic, ocular, or systemic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Physicians should inform patients about DUES as a minor side effect when prescribing TAF for IOP control.

Tear clearance and ocular symptoms in patients treated with preservative-free prostaglandins

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effects on dry eye symptoms and tear dynamics of switching from a prostaglandin with a preservative to a preservative-free prostaglandin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fourteen patients (N=28 eyes) with open-angle glaucoma and dry eye symptons, treated with preserved latanoprost, travoprost or bimatoprost were included in this uncontrolled prospective study. Ocular symptoms were analysed using a validated ocular surface disease questionnaire and ocular signs were assessed with tear clearance, Schirmer and tear function index test (TFI=Schirmer/clearance). Patients were assigned to preservative-free tafluprost treatment, and measurements were repeated 4 weeks after change of medication. Wilcoxon test and Spearman correlation coefficient were used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

No statistically significant difference in intraocular pressure (IOP) was observed after switching to tafluprost. Mean IOP at baseline was 20.4 mmHg (SD2.2) and after 4 weeks 19.9 mmHg (SD2.6), (P>.05). The mean questionnaire score significantly decreased from 9.7 (SD3.7) at baseline to 5.4 (SD2.7) after one month (P<.001). No significant differences in tear clearance, Schirmer or TFI were found (P>.05). At baseline, tear clearance=0.13 (SD0.07), Schirmer=10.7 mm (SD6) and TFI=80 (48-156). After 4 weeks, tear clearance=0.1(SD0.07), Schirmer=9.5 mm (3.9) and TFI=104 (48-216). A significant association between questionnaire score and tear clearance after 4 weeks was observed (Spearman coefficient=0.62; P=.014).

CONCLUSIONS

Switching from preservative prostaglandin with a preservative to preservative-free tafluprost treatment improves dry eye symptoms and suggests an improvement in TFI.

Tafluprost once daily for treatment of elevated intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma

Glaucoma is a leading cause of visual loss worldwide. Current antiglaucoma therapy focuses on lowering intraocular pressure to a safe level. In recent years, prostaglandin analogs have become the first-line agents for treating open angle glaucoma. Tafluprost, which was first reported in 2003, is a novel prostaglandin analog, and has been shown to be a potent ocular hypotensive agent in a number of preclinical and clinical studies. Also, its unique preservative-free formulation helps to decrease preservative-associated ocular disorders and improve patient compliance. In this review, studies from 2003 to 2012 focusing on the structure, metabolism, efficacy, and safety of tafluprost are summarized. These studies suggested that application of tafluprost once daily is a safe and effective treatment for patients with open angle glaucoma.

Differential pharmacology and clinical utility of preservative-free tafluprost in the treatment of ocular hypertension and glaucoma

Glaucoma is a chronic disease requiring lifelong treatment. Discomfort due to medications may affect patients’ quality of life and may cause poor compliance, which leads to poor intraocular pressure control. To minimize the side effects of long-term treatment, preparations with lower benzalkonium chloride concentrations, preservative-free preparations and alternative preservatives have been developed and reported to have a lower rate of side effects. Tafluprost, launched on the ophthalmic market in 2008, is a new 16-phenoxy analogue of prostaglandin F_2α, clinically used as an ocular hypotensive agent for the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. The safety and intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy of tafluprost has been demonstrated in various preclinical and clinical studies.

A prospective study evaluating IOP changes after switching from a therapy with prostaglandin eye drops containing preservatives to nonpreserved tafluprost in glaucoma patients

Purpose. To compare the ocular hypotensive effect of tafluprost with prostaglandin analogues (PGAs) in glaucoma patients. Methods. 89 primary open-angle glaucoma patients treated with bimatoprost, latanoprost, or travoprost for at least 3 months complaining for ocular discomfort were switched to tafluprost. IOP was assessed at baseline and 3 months after switching the therapy by daily curve. Primary outcome was to compare the mean daily IOP of tafluprost with PGAs. Results. The mean daily IOP was 16 ± 2.1 and 16.6 ± 2.0 mm Hg at baseline and after switching to tafluprost, respectively (P > 0.05). When analysis was carried out between tafluprost and each previous PGAs, the comparison between latanoprost and tafluprost and travoprost and tafluprost did not show any statistically significant difference in mean daily IOP and at each time point. The comparison between bimatoprost and tafluprost showed a statistically significant difference in mean daily IOP (P < 0.05) and at each time point (P < 0.05). Conclusions. After 3 months of switching tafluprost showed an overall IOP lowering effect similar to others PGAs. When each PGA was compared with tafluprost, bimatoprost showed to provide a statistically significant additional IOP lowering effect.

In vitro study of antiadipogenic profile of latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost, and tafluprost in human orbital preadiopocytes

PURPOSE

To investigate the effect of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α), latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost, and tafluprost on human orbital preadipocyte differentiation and intracellular lipid storage, and to reveal the potential mechanisms by which topical prostaglandin analogs induce orbital fat volume reduction and cause deep superior sulcus syndrome.

METHODS

Human orbital adipose precursors were treated in vitro for 24 h (day 1) with PGF2α, latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost, and tafluprost in their commercial formulations (1:100 dilution). Expressions of adipogenic transcription factor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), and CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα) were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) at day 7. At 14 days, cells were stained with oil red O, intracellular lipid accumulation was evaluated by lipid absorbance, and adipocyte expression marker [Lipoprotein lipase (LPL)] was determined by real-time RT-PCR.

RESULTS

Our results showed that PGF2α and topical prostaglandin analogs down-regulated the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα, and inhibited accumulation of intra-cytoplasmic lipid droplets and expression of LPL compared with the untreated control. Comparison between the 4 drugs showed that latanoprost had the weakest antiadipogenic effect, and bimatoprost induced the most significant reduction of adipogenesis.

CONCLUSION

Latanoprost, travoprost, bimatoprost, and tafluprost inhibited human preadipocyte differentiation and intracellular lipid accumulation. Morphologic and metabolic changes in orbital adipocytes caused by PGF2α analogs are a possible pathophysiologic explanation of superior eyelid deepening in patients with glaucoma.

Tafluprost: a novel prostaglandin analog for treatment of glaucoma

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this review is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of tafluprost, a fluoroprostaglandin receptor analog, for reduction of intraocular pressure in open angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

METHODS

A search of published literature was performed on the PubMed database using the search term "tafluprost." The literature search identified 48 publications, including clinical and preclinical studies, from 2003 to 2011. From these ressults, articles available in the English language and in full text were selected and systematically reviewed by the authors.

RESULTS

Recent studies have shown that tafluprost is an effective IOP-lowering medication. Evidence based medicine also reveals that tafluprost is safe and well-tolerated. Preservative-free tafluprost is as potent as the preserved formulation, but with fewer and milder ocular surface side effects.

CONCLUSION

Since its introduction in 2008, initial studies have demonstrated that preserved and preservative-free tafluprost formulations have proven efficacy and safety in the treatment of glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Larger studies with longer follow-up are needed to assess long-term safety, efficacy, and tolerability compared with other prostaglandin analogs used for treating glaucoma.

Switching patients from preserved prostaglandin-analog monotherapy to preservative-free tafluprost

Purpose:

Efficacy, tolerability and safety of the novel preservative-free prostaglandin tafluprost 0.0015% were investigated for the treatment of patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension in a clinical setting.

Patients and methods:

Data were collected in a non-interventional, prospective, multi-center, observational, open label study. 118 patients were treated with a prostaglandin analog (PGA) monotherapy (preserved formulations of latanoprost, travoprost or bimatoprost) prior to baseline. Intraocular pressure (IOP) readings were recorded for each eye at baseline (previous therapy), 4–6 weeks, and 12 weeks after changing medical treatment to preservative-free tafluprost once-daily. We analyzed the change in IOP over the study period for all patients as well as for a subgroup of patients with prior PGA monotherapy. Subjective symptoms and objective ocular signs were determined. Comfort was measured using a 4 step scale. All adverse events were recorded. Paired t-tests were conducted to compare IOP values at baseline to IOP values after treatment with tafluprost 0.0015%. Bowker’s test of symmetry was used for statistical evaluation of changes of clinical signs (hyperemia).

Results:

In total 118 patients were eligible for evaluation. In these patients with prior PGA monotherapy (n = 118) IOP decreased significantly from 16.2 ± 4.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.55) at treated baseline to 14.8 ± 3.2 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.43; P < 0.001) at final visit on tafluprost. In a subset of patients with prior latanoprost monotherapy (n = 68) mean IOP at baseline (±SD) was reduced from 16.2 ± 4.6 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.77) 14.8 ± 3.1 mm Hg at final visit (95% CI: 0.54, P < 0.001), in patients with prior travoprost monotherapy (n = 32) from 16.2 ± 4.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.05) to 14.9 ± 3.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 0.91; P < 0.05) and in patients with prior bimatoprost monotherapy (n = 18) from 16.4 ± 3.5 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.14) to 15.0 ± 3.3 mm Hg (95% CI: 1.14; P = 0.252). Both, objective clinical signs and subjective symptoms improved after changing medication to preservative-free tafluprost until final visit. The number of patients with moderate and severe hyperemia decreased from 51 (43.2%) at baseline to 2 (1.9%) at final visit.

Conclusion:

Preservative-free tafluprost 0.0015% was effective, well tolerated and safe. IOP was controlled effectively and ocular symptoms and clinical signs were improved after changing medication to a monotherapy with preservative-free tafluprost in patients previously treated with a preserved latanoprost, travoprost or bimatoprost monotherapy.