Short-term effects of latanoprost on anterior chamber depth in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension

PURPOSE. Prostaglandin F-2 alpha analogues, such as latanoprost, may cause a decrease in the extracellular matrices, such as collagen, and changes in fibrillin-1; both are components of the ciliary zonules. However, the mechanical effect of these changes on the dynamics of the ciliary zonules is unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of latanoprost 0.005% on anterior chamber depth (ACD), best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), lens thickness, and anterior chamber dynamics in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. METHODS. This was a prospective, nonrandomized, autocomparative trial that included 40 patients (40 eyes) with glaucoma or ocular hypertension. ACD was measured with ultrasonography before and after 1 month of treatment with latanoprost. In addition, ACD was measured before and 1 hour after instillation of pilocarpine 2% at baseline and 1 month after treatment with latanoprost. To assess the reproducibility of the ultrasonic measurements, a control group of 20 patients (20 eyes) who did not receive latanoprost was also analyzed. RESULTS. The mean ACD before treatment with latanoprost and before the instillation of pilocarpine was 3.14 +/- 0.46 mm (SD) and after the instillation of pilocarpine, 3.04 +/- 0.46 mm (SD). After 1 month of treatment with latanoprost, ACD was 2.98 +/- 0.44 mm (SD) before instillation of pilocarpine and 2.91 +/- 0.49 mm (SD) after instillation of pilocarpine. P <= 0.05 was reached for all comparisons. CONCLUSIONS. These findings suggest that latanoprost decreases ACD in patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension after 1 month of treatment.