Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the incidence and characteristics of periocular pigmentation with latanoprost 0.005% versus bimatoprost 0.03%.
Methods: :
A retrospective, active–controlled comparison of consecutive patients treated with latanoprost or bimatoprost for 12 months. Patients were evaluated to determine the incidence, characteristics and reversibility of periocular pigmentation.
Results: :
Periocular pigmentation was found in 2/263 (0.8%) patients treated with latanoprost and 8/137 (5.8%) patients treated with bimatoprost within 12 months of beginning treatment (P = 0.004). The characteristics of patients who developed the periocular pigmentation did not differ generally from those who did not demonstrate this change in: age, gender, race, glaucoma diagnosis, study eye and visual acuity at Visit 1 (P < 0.05). Periocular pigmentation was first observed after a mean of four months of treatment (range, 1–11 months) and was usually mild in intensity. The pigment change was characterized as a brownish discoloration in both latanoprost–treated and in 5/8 bimatoprost–treated patients. In the other three bimatoprost–treated patients, the pigmentation had a deep reddish appearance, which did not blanch to pressure. When noted (n = 3), reversal occurred between 25 and 212 days after the pigmentation was first noted and was not necessarily related to discontinuing the medication. There were no apparent adverse events noted due to periocular pigmentation.
Conclusions: :
This study suggests that periocular pigmentation may develop after treatment with latanoprost or bimatoprost. Although incidence of a pigment change appears greater with bimatoprost the clinical presentation differed between a deep reddish to a brown hue.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled clinical trials • intraocular pressure