latanoprost: prescribing and clinical use
Focused clinical detail for use alongside current product information, local policy and patient-specific assessment.
latanoprost: clinical details
Prescribing considerations
- Explain possible permanent iris pigmentation, especially with mixed-colour irides or unilateral treatment.
- Use cautiously around cataract surgery and in people at risk of cystoid macular oedema.
- Use cautiously with risk factors for uveitis, asthma, dry eye or a compromised corneal surface.
- Avoid during active herpes simplex keratitis; use cautiously with relevant previous or recurrent disease.
- Evidence is limited in some glaucoma subtypes and in very young or preterm infants.
Contraindications and cautions
- Hypersensitivity to latanoprost or any product excipient.
Monitoring
- Assess intraocular pressure and glaucoma status at ophthalmic follow-up.
- Monitor iris pigmentation and eyelash or periocular changes.
- Review new eye pain, inflammation, visual disturbance or features of macular oedema.
- With prolonged benzalkonium-chloride exposure, monitor the ocular surface in people with dry eye or corneal compromise.
Clinical pharmacology
Latanoprost is an inactive isopropyl-ester prodrug hydrolysed in the cornea to latanoprost acid. This selective prostanoid FP-receptor agonist lowers intraocular pressure predominantly by increasing uveoscleral aqueous outflow.
Formulation and product differences
- Xalatan is a clear multidose eye-drop solution containing benzalkonium chloride.
- Other UK presentations include preservative-free single-dose droppers; container instructions, storage and expiry after opening vary.
- Preservative-containing preparations may be less suitable for some people with dry eye, corneal disease or contact-lens use.
latanoprost preparations and strengths
Eye drops
Route: Ophthalmic
Strengths: 50 micrograms/mL, 0.005% w/v
latanoprost interactions
Systemic interactions are not well characterised. Important eye-medicine interactions include:
Other prostaglandins or prostaglandin-analogue eye drops, including bimatoprost, tafluprost and travoprost
Combined use may unexpectedly increase eye pressure and is not recommended unless reviewed by an eye specialist.
Thiomersal-containing eye drops
Mixing can cause precipitation; apply the medicines separately as directed.
Other topical eye medicines
One product may wash another from the eye, so use them separately according to their instructions.
Sources
These sources were used to prepare and review this medicine page.
Prepared and reviewed by the iatroX editorial team.