title: Short-term effect of topical brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination on ocular surface of glaucoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the short-term effect of the fixed combination of brinzolamide-timolol on the ocular surface in glaucoma patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a prospective study of 23 eyes of 23 patients with newly diagnosed glaucoma. Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (BUT) measurement, conjunctival impression cytology and central corneal thickness (CCT) measurements were performed in one of the eyes of each patients before and 4 weeks after brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination therapy. All patients were asked to answer the OSDI questionnaire form about the ocular surface symptoms at baseline and at 1 week and 4 weeks follow-up visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination theraphy Schirmer I, BUT and CCT values decreased but the only statistically significant decrease was seen in BUT test (P=0.03). OSDI scores increased during the follow-up but this increase was not statistically significant (P=0.22, P=0.42 respectively). Impression cytology findings ranged from 0.78±0.42 to 0.95±0.36 according to the Nelson classification. There was no statistically significant difference between baseline and 4 weeks follow up in impression cytology grades (P=0.15).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of our study indicate that short-term use of brinzolamide-timolol fixed combination theraphy does not have a profound effect on ocular surface except BUT values.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Inonu University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Penpe Gul
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Samdanci
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doganay
authors.forename: Mufide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cavdar
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sahin
authors.forename: Abuzer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
keywords: fixed combination antiglaucoma drug; impression cytology; ocular surface