title: Three-month evaluation of dorzolamide hydrochloride/timolol maleate fixed-combination eye drops versus the separate use of both drugs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the ocular hypotensive effect and safety of dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study cohort comprised 34 patients with either primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension who were being concomitantly treated with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % eye drops and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops. The dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops were replaced with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops without any washout period. The intraocular pressure (IOP) was evaluated both before and 1 and 3 months after the treatment change. The patients were asked to complete a questionnaire on adherence to the treatment protocol 1 month after the change in treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The IOP was 15.5 ± 2.7 mmHg at the time of treatment change, 15.2 ± 2.7 mmHg at 1 month post-change, and 15.5 ± 2.9 mmHg at 3 months post-change, which is consistent with that before the treatment change (p = 0.286). Based on the completed questionnaire, following the treatment change, 50 % of patients felt a stinging sensation following administration of the eye drops and 11.8 % experienced blurred vision. In no case were the eye drops discontinued due to adverse reactions or insufficient IOP decrease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The replacement of concomitant treatment with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 % and timolol maleate 0.5 % eye drops with dorzolamide hydrochloride 1 %/timolol maleate 0.5 % fixed-combination eye drops improved protocol adherence and preserved the IOP.
authors.affiliation: Inouye Eye Hospital, 4-3 Kanda-Surugadai, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-0062, Japan. inoue-k@inouye-eye.or.jp
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Minako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiokawa
authors.forename: Michitaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sugahara
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wakakura
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soeda
authors.forename: Goji
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013999:Timolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013449:Sulfonamides; D013876:Thiophenes; C479140:dorzolamide-timolol combination; D013999:Timolol; C062765:dorzolamide