Real-World Analysis of the Efficacy of Bimatoprost Sustained-Release Glaucoma Implant Where American Indians Comprise the Largest Minority Population.

Abstract

To assess the effectiveness and safety of bimatoprost sustained release (SR) glaucoma implant as a treatment for open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension in a real-world private practice setting with a significant American Indian population. This retrospective study included 156 eyes from adult patients who received a single injection of bimatoprost implant between June 2020 and May 2022 at the Oklahoma Eye Surgeons. Patients were stratified by baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) (≥21 mmHg versus IOP<21 mmHg). The co-primary endpoints were changes in the mean IOP and the number of topical IOP-lowering medications from baseline to Month 6. At 6 months, eyes with baseline IOP≥21 mmHg had a significantly lower mean IOP (19.85±8.01 versus 26.25±4.84 mmHg; p<0.0001) and the mean number of IOP-lowering medications (1.04±1.44 versus 1.38±1.50; p=0.048) compared with baseline. One year after implantation, 73.58% of eyes had a ≥20% reduction in IOP, 41.51% were medication-free and 30.19% were receiving at least one fewer medication. Among eyes with baseline IOP<21 mmHg, there was a significant reduction in the mean number of IOP-lowering medicines by Month 6 (0.61±1.03 versus 1.93±1.21 at baseline; p<0.0001), with no change in IOP. At 12 months, 24.27% of eyes had a ≥20% decrease in IOP, 43.69% of eyes did not require any medications and 63.11% had at least one fewer medication compared with baseline. An analysis using Welch's two-sample t-test showed no significant differences in the outcomes between the overall population and the American Indian population (number of eyes, 23). Bimatoprost SR glaucoma implant lowered IOP in eyes with high, uncontrolled baseline IOP, while it reduced the number of medications in eyes with a controlled baseline IOP. No clinically meaningful and statistically significant differences in the efficacy of bimatoprost were observed in patients of American Indian descent.