ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, March 12, 1996 TAG: 9603120106
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RICHARD HARKNESS KNIGHT-RIDDER/TRIBUNE
Singer Crystal Gayle (``Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue'') doesn't have anything on latanoprost eye drops, a new drug for glaucoma.
It has the quirky side effect of turning some brown, hazel or brown-green eyes blue in color.
``Were it not for this side effect, latanoprost would be seen to be the ideal glaucoma medication,'' said Dr. Alan Jordan of the New York State Medical Sciences Center.
Glaucoma affects about 2 million Americans and is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. It results from a buildup of internal pressure when an eye's natural fluid doesn't drain properly. That ultimately damages the optic nerve.
Studies suggest that the new agent helps the eye drain fluid. It appears to work better and to have fewer side effects than timolol (Timoptic) eyedrops, a standard treatment.
The long-term goal is to maintain a low internal eye pressure day and night, which latanoprost does. Timolol and similar agents don't reduce pressure during sleep.
One researcher says that latanoprost is the first real breakthrough in glaucoma treatment in 20 years. It works a whole new way from timolol. It reduces fluid drainage, while timolol reduces fluid production. Latanoprost is used once daily.
A big advantage is that the new drug is free of the potentially serious side effects associated with beta-blocker drugs such as timolol. They can cause such side effects as heartbeat disturbances and shortness of breath. That's especially significant in patients with heart or respiratory problems.
The eye-color change seems to be the one drawback.
``Such a shift in color apparently affecting both eyes could stop people from using a good drug,'' Jordan said. The color change happened to 31 out of the first 200 patients studied for a year. It may be permanent.
What causes this color shift? The manufacturer says it could be simply an increase in the amount of melanin in the eyes of some individuals. Melanin is a natural pigment that imparts color.
Researchers are busy trying to figure out who's most at risk. Jordan guessed that the full story may not be known until the drug is marketed and used by larger numbers of patients. Approval by the Food and Drug Administration is expected soon.
Richard Harkness is a consultant pharmacist who writes on health care topics.
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