The efficacy of timolol in gel-forming solution after morning or evening dosing in Asian glaucomatous patients.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of timolol gel-forming solution as a monotherapy and to compare the efficacy of timolol gel-forming solution morning instillation versus at night application in Asians with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma.


METHODS
A retrospective, comparative, parallel group study was conducted on 78 eligible patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma who received topical timolol gel-forming solution either on morning (AM dosing group; 39 patients) or evening (PM dosing group; 39 patients) as monotherapy treatment. Intraocular pressure was taken at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12 months post-treatment.


RESULTS
Mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) for timolol gel-forming solution in general was 22.7 +/- 6.6 mmHg with the mean IOP reduction of 5.7 +/- 5.3 mmHg (23.1% reduction). The mean IOP reduction of the AM dosing group was 7.5 +/- 5.2 mmHg (31.0% reduction) and 3.9 +/- 4.9 mmHg (15.1% reduction) in the PM dosing group (P = 0.0002). There was a statistically significant difference of IOP reductions between AM and PM dosing group at 1 month (P = 0.041), 3 months (P = 0.037) and 12 months (P = 0.015) post-treatment. Seventy-five percent (24) of good responders was in the AM group and 67.4% (31) of poor responders were patients in the PM group.


CONCLUSIONS
Timolol gel-forming solution is effective in reducing IOP in Asian eyes. Morning dosing was more effective in lowering the IOP compared to evening dosing.
Ong
Lieh Bin
LB
Department of Ophthalmology, Ipoh Hospital, Perak, Malaysia. ong_lb@yahoo.co.uk
Liza-Sharmini
Ahmad Tajuddin
AT
Chieng
Lee Ling
LL
Cheong
Min Tet
MT
Vengadasalam
Selva Raja
SR
Shin
Hoy Choong
HC
Balaravi
Pillai
P
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D005782:Gels; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D005782:Gels; D013999:Timolol