Ocular comfort of combination glaucoma therapies: brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% compared with dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5%.
OBJECTIVE
Successful management of glaucoma and ocular hypertension requires patient compliance with the therapeutic regimen. Because ocular discomfort affects compliance, we compared the comfort of brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% and dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5%.


METHODS
In this single-centre, randomized, double-masked, internally controlled/paired-eye study, 30 subjects without a significant ocular surface disease received brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% in 1 eye and dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% in the fellow eye. They evaluated discomfort at 30-40 s and 5 min postinstillation.


RESULTS
At 30-40 s, brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% provided significantly lower mean ocular discomfort scores than dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% (P < 0.0001). This pattern persisted at 5 min but was not statistically significant. Significant differences were seen in the subjects' determination of the more comfortable treatment (P < 0.0001): brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% was rated as more comfortable than dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% by 80% of subjects at 30-40 s and by 27% at 5 min. Only 10% of subjects at each time point rated dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% as more comfortable. The remaining subjects reported no preference at either time point. No adverse events were reported.


CONCLUSIONS
Brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% was significantly more comfortable than dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% upon instillation. Patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma may be more compliant with brimonidine 0.2%/timolol 0.5% treatment.
Chan
Kenny
K
Department of Ophthalmology, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia.
Testa
Madalena
M
McCluskey
Peter
P
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013999:Timolol / Q000009:adverse effects*