Effects of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5% fixed-combination therapy for glaucoma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5% fixed-combination therapy in the treatment of patients with glaucoma.


METHODS
To measure the main treatment effects of a fixed combination of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5%, we conducted three small studies: (1) a comparison of diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline and at 6 months after brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy (n = 81); (2) an assessment of the effects of one drop of the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination on diurnal IOP (n = 25); and (3) the effects of brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy on the anterior ocular segment over time (n = 64).


RESULTS
(1) After 6 months of treatment with the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination, the mean diurnal IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) decreased from 21.4 ± 2.0 to 14.5 ± 3.1 mmHg (32.2%, P < 0.001), and the mean diurnal IOP in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) decreased from 13.5 ± 2.8 to 10.9 ± 2.0 mmHg (19.3%, P < 0.001). (2) After instillation with one drop of the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination, the IOP in the instilled eye was lowest at 9:00 p.m. and had decreased by 1.7 mmHg compared with the baseline IOP in the instilled eye. The difference in IOP between the instilled eye and untreated fellow eye was largest at 3:00 p.m., measuring 1.7 mmHg (P = 0.011). (3) Brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy caused significant miosis over time (P = 0.003).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study suggest that brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy has beneficial IOP-lowering effects and significant effects on pupil size.
Department of Ophthalmology, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Sung Woo
SW
Cho
Joon Mo
JM
Kim
Ki Ho
KH
Park
Chul Young
CY
Choi
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D057066:Low Tension Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011680:Pupil / Q000187:drug effects; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D013999:Timolol