title: Tolerability and effectiveness of preservative-free dorzolamide-timolol (preservative-free COSOPT) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effect of preservative-free dorzolamide-timolol on nonvisual symptoms and intraocular pressure (IOP) in newly diagnosed and untreated patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective, 8-week, open-label, Canadian multicenter study. All patients were treated with preservative-free dorzolamide-timolol formulation. The primary outcome was the change in the nonvisual symptom score of the Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS-SYMP-6) from baseline to 8 weeks. Secondary effectiveness outcome measures were absolute and percent changes in IOP from baseline to 4 and 8 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and seventy-eight patients were enrolled. Mean (SD) age was 65.6 (12.1) years and 90 (50.6%) were females. There were 92 patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma, 62 with ocular hypertension, and 23 with both diseases (diagnosis was missing for one patient). The mean (SD) GSS-SYMP-6 score increased from 73.6 (21.8) at baseline to 76.1 (20.7) at 8 weeks (P = 0.097). Mean (SD) IOP significantly decreased by 11.7 (5.1) mmHg at 4 weeks (P < 0.001) and by 11.5 (5.3) mmHg at 8 weeks (P < 0.001), representing reductions of -38.5% (P < 0.001) and -38.0% (P < 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preservative-free dorzolamide-timolol does not increase eye discomfort while significantly reducing IOP in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular-hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Ivey Eye Institute, St Joseph Healthcare, London, Ontario, Canada.cindy.hutnik@sjhc.london.on.ca
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hutnik
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neima
authors.forename: Fahim
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vaillancourt
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Haine
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Sampalis
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bastien
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Foucart