Purpose: Although useful for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP), bimatoprost (BIM) can cause deepening of the upper eyelid sulcus (DUES), one of the symptoms of prostaglandin-associated periorbitopathy (PAP). We investigated recovery from BIM-induced DUES after switching treatment to latanoprost (LAT).
Design: Prospective, observer-masked, open-label study.
Methods: Twenty-five Japanese patients suffering from primary open-angle glaucoma treated with LAT in both eyes for longer than 6 months and requiring further IOP reduction were prospectively enrolled in the study. During the first 6 months after the switch to BIM, 15 of the 25 patients (60 %) developed DUES. Among these patients, 13 were switched back to LAT and re-examined for DUES at 2-month intervals for an additional 6 months.
Results: Two months after the switch back to LAT, for 11 of the 13 patients (85 %) the DUES symptoms had either decreased or disappeared, and this was maintained for at least 6 months. During this time, 6 of 8 patients (75 %) subjectively positive for DUES self-reported a decrease in DUES.
Conclusions: Although DUES is a frequent side effect of treatment with BIM, switching to LAT may reverse the condition for most patients.