Travoprost Lowers Intraocular Pressure in Healthy Student Volunteers in a Nigerian Medical School

Abstract

We evaluated the change in diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by the instillation of single dose travoprost 0.004% and 
placebo into the eyes of 20 healthy African volunteers in a randomized double masked, placebo controlled, crossover, single 
centre study. Pulse rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory rate were also measured. Mean IOP was lower than 
baseline values up to 72 hours after instillation but the mean IOP was significantly lower in the eyes that received travoprost 
compared to eyes that received placebo at 6 hours (p < 0.007), 12 hours (p < 0.019), and 24 hours (p < 0.001) after drug 
administration. Maximum IOP reduction was observed at 12 hours for travoprost and placebo with IOP lowered to 9.2mmHg +
0.6mmHg (mean + SEM) compared to 11.1mmHg + 0.6mmHg for placebo. The maximum reduction of IOP from baseline values 
was more with travoprost 4.3mmHg + 2.5mmHg (31%) versus 3.2mmHg + 2.1mmHg (22%) for placebo although not statistically 
significant. There was minimal intraocular pressure reduction in the fellow eye which did not receive travoprost, but the reduction 
in IOP was not significantly lower in fellow eyes that received placebo. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and respiratory 
rates were unaffected by travoprost. This study suggests that a single dose of travoprost lowers the IOP more in eyes of indigenous 
African volunteers compared with placebo. The IOP lowering effect was for up to 72 hours after drug application. No adverse 
effect was observed in blood pressure and respiratory rates.