A 6-month assessment of bimatoprost 0.03% vs timolol maleate 0.5%: hypotensive efficacy, macular thickness and flare in ocular-hypertensive and glaucoma patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare 6 months of treatment with bimatoprost and timolol in terms of their hypotensive efficacy and secondary effects, including changes in macular thickness and the inflammatory reaction induced in the anterior chamber.


METHODS
A prospective, randomized, parallel-group trial performed on 30 eyes of 30 patients per group. The main outcome measure was the difference between the IOP value taken between the baseline visit and the 6-month-visit. Macular thickness determined through optical coherence tomography and anterior chamber inflammation estimated using the laser flare meter was also evaluated. Adverse events were recorded during the study period.


RESULTS
Bimatoprost treatment gave rise to a significantly lower mean IOP than timolol in all follow-up visits as from the first month (P<0.05). Bimatoprost achieved high percentage IOP reductions from baseline in a significantly higher proportion of patients (P<0.05). Macular thickness and anterior chamber flare failed to vary significantly both between the two groups and within each group during the 6-month evaluation (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Bimatoprost 0.03% once daily showed a greater efficacy then timolol 0.05% twice daily in patients with elevated IOP. No significant differences were detected in macular thickness or anterior uveitis using optical coherence tomography and laser flare photometry.
Martin
E
E
Hospital Clinico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain.
Martinez-de-la-Casa
J M
JM
Garcia-Feijoo
J
J
Troyano
J
J
Larrosa
J M
JM
Garcia-Sanchez
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000577:Amides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000867:Anterior Chamber / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069580:Bimatoprost; D003008:Cloprostenol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008266:Macula Lutea / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013999:Timolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000577:Amides; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D008055:Lipids; D003008:Cloprostenol; D013999:Timolol; D000069580:Bimatoprost