Ocular hypotensive effects and safety over 3 months of switching from an unfixed combination to latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination.
OBJECTIVE
Latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% combination eye drops are now available in Japan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prospective intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction effects and adherence with the combination eye drops in Japanese patients.


METHODS
The subjects were 162 patients (162 eyes) with glaucoma or ocular hypertension concomitantly using latanoprost 0.005% and timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops. Concomitant use of the 2 eye drops was stopped, and patients were switched to the latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% combination eye drops without any washout period. IOP was measured before the switch, and at 1 and 3 months after the switch, and then compared. A questionnaire survey on adherence was also conducted 1 month after the switch.


RESULTS
IOP was the same before and after the switch: 15.2±3.3 mmHg before the switch, 14.9±3.0 mmHg 1 month after the switch, and 15.1±3.2 mmHg 3 months after the switch. According to the questionnaire survey, the frequency of forgetting to administer eye drops decreased with the switch, but 45.1% of the patients experienced irritation. About 82.1% replied that they preferred the latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% combination eye drops. By the third month after the switch, 13 patients (8.0%) had discontinued the eye drops due to side effects or insufficient IOP reduction.


CONCLUSIONS
The switch from the concomitant use of latanoprost 0.005% and timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops to latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% combination eye drops improved adherence and helped maintain IOP.
Inouye Eye Hospital, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan. inoue-k@inouye-eye.or.jp
Kenji
K
Inoue
Ryoko
R
Okayama
Risako
R
Higa
Hideko
H
Sawada
Masato
M
Wakakura
Goji
G
Tomita
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077338:Latanoprost; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011461:Prostaglandins F, Synthetic; D000077338:Latanoprost; D013999:Timolol