Bimatoprost: a review of its use in open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Bimatoprost (Lumigan) is a synthetic prostamide that reduces intraocular pressure (IOP) by increasing the outflow of aqueous humour. In patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension, long-term treatment (for up to 48 months) with once-daily bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution was more effective than timolol twice daily in providing a sustained and stable reduction in IOP. Bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution demonstrated efficacy similar to, or greater than, the prostaglandin analogues latanoprost and travoprost in reducing IOP and achieving target IOP levels. Switching to bimatoprost was as effective in maintaining diurnal IOP control as switching to a fixed combination of latanoprost/timolol (in patients with IOP levels controlled with a nonfixed combination of latanoprost plus timolol), and similarly, or more, effective in lowering IOP and providing overall diurnal IOP control than switching to a combination of dorzolamide/timolol (in patients with IOP inadequately controlled with other antiglaucoma agents including timolol). Treatment with bimatoprost was generally well tolerated, with conjunctival hyperaemia (mostly mild), growth of eyelashes and ocular pruritus being commonly reported. Other adverse events included increases in the pigmentation of the iris, perorbital areas and eyelashes.