A comparison of dorzolamide-timolol combination versus the concomitant drugs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering effect of fixed combination dorzolamide 2% and timolol 0.5% therapy to that of concomitant administration of a topical beta-blocker and dorzolamide.


METHODS
Seventy-four consecutive glaucoma patients were changed from a regimen including a topical beta-blocker and dorzolamide to the fixed combination dorzolamide-timolol in 1 eye, with the other eye used as the control. The average IOP readings before and 1 month after the change were compared.


RESULTS
The mean baseline IOP in the entire study population was 19.4 +/- 4.2 mm Hg in the study eyes and 16.9 +/- 4.2 mm Hg in the control eyes. Four weeks after the medication change, the mean IOP was 17.3 +/- 3.9 mm Hg in the study eyes (P <.001) and 16.1 +/- 4.1 mm Hg in the control eyes (P =.02). The difference between the mean IOP change of 2.1 mm Hg in the study eyes and 0.8 mm Hg in the control eyes was found to be statistically significant (P =.01).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the fixed combination dorzolamide-timolol therapy achieves additional lowering of the intraocular pressure compared with the concomitant administration of a beta-blocker and dorzolamide.
Choudhri
S
S
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Wand
M
M
Shields
M B
MB
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; D013999:Timolol; C062765:dorzolamide