PURPOSE: Latanoprostene bunod 0.024% (LBN) is a once-daily topical therapy approved for intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction in individuals with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT). Despite its distinct dual mechanism of action, its real-world use as an early treatment option in glaucoma care is not well characterized. This study evaluated the demographic and clinical profile of patients with OAG or OHT who initiated LBN therapy.

METHODS: This retrospective observational study used linked Medicare fee-for-service Parts A, B, and D claims and IRIS® Registry data from January 1, 2021, to December 31, 2023. Eligible patients had evidence of OAG/OHT diagnosis or treatment and an IRIS-recorded IOP value between 8 and 40 mmHg within a 30-days during calendar year 2022. Patients were excluded if they were under age 65, were diagnosed with other forms of glaucoma, and/or received unknown laterality procedures. Also, patients with prior glaucoma therapy during the baseline period were excluded to identify new therapy initiators.

RESULTS: A total of 388,057 patients with OAG/OHT were identified, of whom 29,911 initiated an interventional therapy during follow-up. Among these, 304 patients initiated LBN. Patients receiving LBN were primarily female (61.8%), had a mean (SD) age of 78.4 (8.3) years, and were largely Caucasian (75.7%). The mean (SD) IOP at index was 19.0 (6.4) mmHg. Overall, 25.7% of patients had IOP >21 mmHg, whereas 74.3% had IOP values within the 8–21 mmHg range. With respect to disease severity, 32.0% had mild glaucoma, 24.1% had moderate glaucoma, 6.2% had OHT without glaucoma, and 9.3% had severe glaucoma.

CONCLUSION: In this real-world Medicare population, LBN initiation was observed across varying levels of glaucoma severity, with a substantial proportion of patients presenting with IOP ≤21 mmHg at baseline. These findings suggest that LBN may be used earlier in the treatment pathway and may have relevance for managing older adults with OAG/OHT in routine clinical practice.