Comparing bimatoprost and travoprost in black Americans

OBJECTIVE: To compare the intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of topical bimatoprost 0.03% with that of travoprost 0.004% for the treatment of black patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and ocular hypertension (OHT). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Multicenter, prospective, randomized, investigator-masked trial of 94 black patients previously diagnosed with OAG or OHT. All patients completed washout of ocular hypotensive medications before study participation. Patients were assigned to either once-daily bimatoprost 0.03% or once-daily travoprost 0.004% for 3 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome measures were mean intraocular pressure (IOP), mean change from baseline IOP, and percentage of patients who reached a target IOP reduction. Secondary measures included ophthalmologic examination and adverse events. RESULTS: Both bimatoprost and travoprost significantly lowered IOP at all study visits (p < 0.001). Bimatoprost provided mean IOP reductions from baseline that ranged from 6.8 mmHg to 7.8 mmHg (27% to 31%). Travoprost provided mean IOP reductions from baseline that ranged from 6.2 mmHg to 6.9 mmHg (25% to 28%). By month 3, 85% of participants in the bimatoprost group had a mean IOP reduction of at least 20%, compared with 68% of those in the travoprost group. Furthermore, 31.9% of those in the bimatoprost group had a mean IOP reduction of more than 40% at month 3 compared with 20.9% of those in the travoprost group. There were no significant differences in biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy, or visual acuity. Ocular redness was the most commonly reported adverse event in both treatment groups. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Bimatoprost and travoprost each effectively lowered IOP in this population of black patients. More patients achieved clinically relevant IOP reductions with bimatoprost.