Effects of corneal thickness on the intraocular penetration of travoprost 0.004%

Abstract

Purpose: To determine whether the intraocular penetration of travoprost 0.004% is affected by central corneal thickness. Methods: Sixty-four patients who were scheduled for cataract surgery without any other ophthalmologic pathology of significance were enroled in this study. At 120 min before surgery, one drop of travoprost 0.004% was instilled in the eye to be operated on. At the start of surgery, a sample of aqueous humour was extracted to subsequently determine its AL-5848 concentration. These concentrations were compared among three groups of patients established according to central corneal thickness measurements obtained by ultrasound pachymetry. Results: Mean AL-5848 concentrations were 3.27±2.03 ng/ml in Group I (CCT<511 microns), 3.27±2.44 ng/ml in Group II (CCT≥511 and ≤574 microns), and 2.73±2.15 ng/ml in Group III (CCT>574 microns), indicating no significant differences among the groups. Conclusions: We were unable to demonstrate the greater or lesser penetration of travoprost depending on corneal thickness, which could explain differences in patient responses to this drug. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited All rights reserved.