The effect of topical bimatoprost on corneal clarity in primary open-angle glaucoma: a longitudinal prospective assessment.

Abstract

To study the effect of topical bimatoprost on the corneal optical density values using a dual Scheimpflug Placido analysis system. This longitudinal case-control study included 18 patients with newly diagnosed primary open-angle glaucoma who received topical bimatoprost as a first-line treatment and 20 healthy individuals (age and sex-matched controls). Corneal densitometry data were obtained using the dual Scheimpflug analyzer at pre-treatment and 1st, 6th, 12th, 18th months of post-treatment. Repeated measures of ANOVA and Pearson correlation tests were used for statistical analysis. There were statistically significant differences between pre-treatment and post-treatment 1st and 6th months corneal densitometry values (p < 0.001, p = 0.007, respectively). However, there was no statistically significant difference between the post-treatment 12th and 18th months (p > 0.05). Corneal densitometry values decreased during the 1st month. Intraocular pressure (IOP) differences were statistically significant between baseline and 1month after treatment (P < 0.001), however not statistically significant between the 1st and 6th, 6th and 12th, 12th and 18th months after treatment (p > 0.05, for all). Corneal densitometry was not correlated with IOP (r = - 0.037, p = 0.44). In the control group, there was no statistically significant difference between baseline and post-baseline 18th-month corneal densitometry measurements (p > 0.05). Topical bimatoprost administration might result in a decrease in corneal densitometry measurement. It is of clinical importance that topical bimatoprost administration can affect corneal transparency and cause a possible alteration in corneal properties.