Omidenepag isopropyl (OMDI) drops are associated with good IOP lowering and may avoid unwanted side effects associated with prostaglandin analogs. The drug’s effect on the cornea, however, must be further understood, according to a study in the Journal of Glaucoma.

Seung Hyeun Lee, MD, and colleagues from Chung-Ang University College of Medicine in Taiwan looked at the efficacy and safety of 0.002% OMDI drops. They evaluated records for 62 eyes treated with the drops for ≥6 months, measuring IOP, refraction, keratometry, central corneal thickness (CCT), endothelial cell count, coefficient of variation of endothelial cell area (CV), corneal erosion, and central retinal thickness at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months.

IOP reductions were significant and stable after 6 months and the endothelial cell count did not change. Measurements of CV, however, transiently increased from 12.6 to 17.0 at 1 month, CCT increased from 531.5 to 538.4 μm, myopia changed from -1.50 to -1.90 D, and keratometry changed from 44.5 to 44.7 D. Measurements of CV, myopia, and keratometry recovered to baseline. No central retinal thickness changes were seen but CCT remained high with significant corneal erosion at 6 months. Patients experienced improvements in prostaglandin-associated side effects 3 months after switching to OMDI.