Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in the persistency and treatment
costs for latanoprost, bimatoprost, or beta-blockers in open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive
patients. Methods: This study was a retrospective, multicenter, parallel, active-controlled
comparison of patients who were prescribed with ocular hypotensive monotherapy
between September 1996 and August 2002. Results: 1,182 patients were included. The
Kaplan Meier life table analysis showed that latanoprost was continued longest among the
groups for the first year of therapy (p = 0.02). A significant difference existed between groups
in the final intraocular pressure for latanoprost (17.3 ± 3.9, N = 357), for bimatoprost (18.0 ±
3.6, N = 146), and for the beta-blockers (17.9 ± 3.7, N = 335) (p = <0.0001). The average
number of visits was statistically higher for beta-blockers (3.3), compared to latanoprost
(2.9) and bimatoprost (3.1) (p = 0.01). Further, the mean number of medicine changes was
greater for bimatoprost (0.45) and beta-blockers (0.47) than for latanoprost (0.27) (p =
0.0008). The cost of visits and medications was lowest for beta-blockers ($119.3 ± $78.9)
and highest for bimatoprost ($163.8 ± $51.2) (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Patients were more
persistent with latanoprost and demonstrated lower intraocular pressure, fewer visits, and
fewer medicine changes when compared to bimatoprost or beta-blocker therapy. In contrast,
the beta-blocker group provided lower overall cost.
