Topical latanoprost does not cause macular thickening after uncomplicated cataract surgery

To explore changes in central macular thickness (CMT) after a two-month period of glaucoma therapy with topical latanoprost after uneventful phacoemulsification.

Forty-one eyes of 31 patients with primary open angle or pseudoexfoliative glaucoma who required glaucoma medications after cataract surgery were prospectively enrolled. All eyes had undergone uneventful phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation at least 4 months before initiation of latanoprost. After a complete ophthalmic examination, spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed at baseline before starting latanoprost. All eyes received latanoprost for 2 months, and clinical examinations were repeated one and two months afterwards; OCT and FA were repeated after 2 months. Outcome measures were CMT and loss of more than 2 lines of best corrected visual acuity (BCVA).

Mean patient age was 71.6±7.8 years. Intraocular pressure decreased from 21.5±3.4 mmHg to 14.4±2.6 mmHg (p<0.001) at 2 months. None of the eyes developed reduction of BCVA exceeding 2 lines, or angiographic cystoid macular edema (CME). Likewise no significant change was noted in CMT (249.9±29.8 vs 248.8±30.7µm), average macular thickness (274.5±15.0 vs 273.8±17.0µm), or macular volume (9.6±1.0 vs 9.6±1.1µm2) after treatment as compared to baseline (P>0.05 for all comparisons).

Topical use of latanoprost later than 4 months after uncomplicated cataract surgery does not seem to predispose to increased macular thickness or CME and may safely be used in this setting.