Latanoprost preservative-free drops may be more effective in ocular surface care

In a comparative study of preservative-free antiglaucoma eye drops, latanoprost PF appears to be more effective in treating the ocular surface without inducing overexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) compared to bimatoprost PF. Elevated levels of MMP-9, associated with ocular surface disease (OSD), were significantly higher in the bimatoprost PF group, suggesting potential concerns regarding its impact on ocular health.

The findings underscore the importance of considering not only intraocular pressure control but also the potential effects on the ocular surface when selecting antiglaucoma medications for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Participants were divided into 3 groups: 11 eyes treated with latanoprost PF, 9 eyes treated with bimatoprost PF, and 24 eyes in the control group.

The bimatoprost PF group exhibited elevated MMP-9 levels (>40 ng/mL) in 88.89% of participants, a significant contrast to the control group (8.33%) and the latanoprost PF group (27.27%). Schirmer’s test values were significantly lower in the bimatoprost PF group compared to both the control and latanoprost PF groups. Furthermore, TBUT values were also lower in the bimatoprost PF group compared to the control group, and this difference was statistically significant.

Reference
Dimtsas GS, Tsiogka A, Moschos MM. Latanoprost PF vs. Bimatoprost PF: Which Treats the Ocular Surface Better? J Clin Med. 2023;12(21):6732. doi: 10.3390/jcm12216732. PMID: 37959198.