Switching to preservative-free latanoprost: impact on tolerability and patient satisfaction

Francisco José Muñoz Negrete,1 Hans G Lemij,2 Carl Erb3 1Ophthalmology Service, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain; 2Glaucoma Service, Rotterdam Eye Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands; 3Augenklinik Wittenbergplatz, Berlin, Germany Abstract: Patient satisfaction with glaucoma treatment has been poorly studied to date. Because glaucoma is a chronic condition in which the therapeutic response is dependent on adherence to treatment, patient acceptability is an important factor in achieving satisfactory outcomes. This multicenter, international (Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain), epidemiological convenience sample survey among patients commencing treatment with preservative-free latanoprost collected data on patient satisfaction with particular regard to tolerability. A total of 1,541 patients were recruited who were predominantly elderly (74% were over 60 years of age) and female (61%). Most of the patients had previously received preserved topical glaucoma medication (69%), 6.7% had previously received preservative-free medication, whereas 24% had not previously been treated for glaucoma. The great majority of patients (>95%) were satisfied with the preservative-free latanoprost treatment. Among the patients who had previously received preserved medication, 73% of patients found preservative-free latanoprost to be better tolerated and 89% found it at least as easy to use as their prior treatment. Patient satisfaction (determined by a 0–100 mm visual analog scale) was improved by 47% on a switch from preserved treatment to preservative-free latanoprost. Intraocular pressure was similar in patients who had previously received preserved (18.3 mmHg), preservative-free (17.8 mmHg) glaucoma medication or who were naïve to treatment (20.3 mmHg). Preservative-free latanoprost provided effective reduction of intraocular pressure with better tolerability and patient satisfaction than preserved glaucoma medication. This tolerability profile can be expected to improve adherence to treatment in glaucoma patients. Keywords: prostaglandins analogs, glaucoma therapy, preservative, patient satisfaction, tolerability, persistence, tear substitute

The new Bruch’s membrane opening – minimum rim width classification improves optical coherence tomography specificity in tilted discs

Gema Rebolleda, Alfonso Casado, Noelia Oblanca, Francisco J Muñoz-Negrete Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Madrid, Spain Background and objective: To investigate and compare the false-positive (FP) diagnostic classification of the Bruch’s membrane opening – minimum rim width (BMO-MRW) and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in healthy eyes with tilted optic disc.Materials and methods: Fifty healthy eyes of 30 participants with tilted optic disc underwent BMO-MRW and RNFL scanning using Spectralis and macular Cirrus optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans.Results: The overall FP rate was significantly lower using BMO-MRW map compared with both RNFL map by Spectralis (8% vs 62%, respectively, P<0.001) and ganglion cell analysis (GCA) map by Cirrus (8% vs 50%, respectively, P<0.001). Specificity was significantly higher using BMO-MRW than RNFL in eyes with low (89.7% vs 41.4%, P<0.001) and moderate myopia (95.2% vs 33.3%, P<0.001). Conclusion: OCT-derived BMO-MRW analysis provides significantly greater specificity than RNFL in tilted disc irrespectively of the refractive error, and it is more specific than GCA analysis in tilted disc with moderate myopia. Keywords: tilted disc, optical coherence tomography, false-positive, Bruch membran

Efficacy and tolerability of benzalkonium chloride-free travoprost in glaucoma patients switched from benzalkonium chloride-preserved latanoprost or bimatoprost

Julian García-Feijoo,1 Francisco J Muñoz-Negrete,2 Douglas A Hubatsch,3 Gemma C Rossi4 On behalf of the study investigators 1Department of Ophthalmology, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Universidad Complutense, OFTARED, 2Hospital UniversItario Ramón y Cajal, Universidad de Alcalá, IRYCIS, OFTARED, Madrid, Spain; 3Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX, USA; 4Department of Ophthalmology, University Eye Clinic, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, Pavia, Italy Introduction: The preservative benzalkonium chloride (BAK) is used to preserve several topical, intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering glaucoma medications but can cause tolerability concerns that may lead to decreased adherence to treatment and ultimately diminish the effectiveness of IOP control. The study aimed to determine the efficacy and tolerability of BAK-free travoprost preserved with polyquaternium-1 in glaucoma patients switched from BAK-preserved latanoprost or bimatoprost.Methods: This 12-week, open-label study was conducted in Europe between December 2011 and February 2013. We enrolled adult patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were receiving BAK-preserved latanoprost 0.005% or bimatoprost 0.01% and, in the opinion of the investigator, would benefit from transition to BAK-free travoprost 0.004% preserved with polyquaternium-1 because of tolerability concerns. Assessments included IOP, proportion of patients with IOP ≤18 mmHg, ocular surface status, hyperemia, patient treatment preference, and adherence. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study.Results: Of the 202 patients screened, 187 patients were included in the intent-to-treat population (mean age, 66.6 years; range, 19–90 years). The mean IOP significantly reduced from baseline (17.0 mmHg) to week 6 (mean change, -1.17 mmHg; P<0.001) and week 12 (-1.16 mmHg; P<0.001). At week 12, more patients achieved IOP ≤18 mmHg (81.2% versus 73.3% at baseline), and ocular surface disease severity improved from baseline to week 12. Most patients preferred BAK-free travoprost (74.9%) versus their previous medication and were very confident in their adherence (84.1%). Reduced visual acuity and eye pruritus were the most common adverse events (2.5% each).Conclusion: BAK-free travoprost 0.004% preserved with polyquaternium-1 was efficacious and well tolerated and may be an advantageous prostaglandin analog option for patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who are intolerant to BAK-preserved latanoprost or bimatoprost. Keywords: benzalkonium chloride, intraocular pressure, polyquad, polyquaternium-1, prostaglandin analog, switch, travopros

Real-world clinical experience with idebenone in the treatment of Leber hereditary optic neuropathy

Background: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) leads to bilateral central vision loss. In a clinical trial setting, idebenone has been shown to be safe and to provide a trend toward improved visual acuity, but long-term evidence of effectiveness in real-world clinical practice is sparse. Methods: Open-label, multicenter, retrospective, noncontrolled analysis of long-term visual acuity and safety in 111 LHON patients treated with idebenone (900 mg/day) in an expanded access program. Eligible patients had a confirmed mitochondrial DNA mutation and had experienced the onset of symptoms (most recent eye) within 1 year before enrollment. Data on visual acuity and adverse events were collected as per normal clinical practice. Efficacy was assessed as the proportion of patients with either a clinically relevant recovery (CRR) or a clinically relevant stabilization (CRS) of visual acuity. In the case of CRR, time to and magnitude of recovery over the course of time were also assessed. Results: At time of analysis, 87 patients had provided longitudinal efficacy data. Average treatment duration was 25.6 months. CRR was observed in 46.0% of patients. Analysis of treatment effect by duration showed that the proportion of patients with recovery and the magnitude of recovery increased with treatment duration. Average gain in best-corrected visual acuity for responders was 0.72 logarithm of the minimal angle of resolution (logMAR), equivalent to more than 7 lines on the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) chart. Furthermore, 50% of patients who had a visual acuity below 1.0 logMAR in at least one eye at initiation of treatment successfully maintained their vision below this threshold by last observation. Idebenone was well tolerated, with most adverse events classified as minor. Conclusions: These data demonstrate the benefit of idebenone treatment in recovering lost vision and maintaining good residual vision in a real-world setting. Together, these findings indicate that idebenone treatment should be initiated early and be maintained more than 24 months to maximize efficacy. Safety results were consistent with the known safety profile of idebenone