Postoperative latanoprost does not affect macular thickness

This prospective study evaluated the effect of postoperative latanoprost on central macular thickness (CMT) after uneventful cataract surgery in patients with glaucoma.

Study design

Patients with glaucoma and treated with latanoprost were randomized to continue treatment (n=76 eyes) or discontinuation (n=80 eyes) after uneventful cataract surgery. Central macular thickness was evaluated at 1 and 3 months after surgery using OCT.

Outcomes

The latanoprost group had a transient 12-μm increase in CMT at 1 month, but it returned to the baseline level at 3 months. The difference in average CMT change was not significantly different between groups.

Limitations

This study is limited by the small data set of patients. This makes it hard to compare rare events such as macular edema after cataract surgery.

Clinical significance

The impact of this study is quite large. Prostaglandin analog drugs are the most common glaucoma drops used in the United States. There are many discussions considering the cessation of drops prior to cataract surgery. This study offers tomographic evidence suggesting that it may be possible to continue these drugs. However, caution should still be used when interpreting these results.