An Evaluation of the Pilocarpine Ocusert

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Abstract

Forty patients with open-angle glaucoma who were responsive to pilocarpine have been studied for up to eight months regarding their response to the use of the pilocarpine Ocusert with a delivery rate of 20 micrograms per hour. Using pilocarpine drops, the 40 patients had a mean intraocular pressure of 20.7 plus or minus 8.6 mm. Hg. When the pilocarpine was discontinued their pressure rose to a mean of 25.6 plus or minus 5.6 mm. Hg. Using a pilocarpine Ocusert, mean pressure was reduced to 19.9 plus or minus 3.9 mm. Hg on both a short- and long-term basis. The reduction in pressure with use of the Ocusert is significant with a p-value of less than 0.01. Subjectively, the patients responded that they preferred the Ocusert system to pilocarpine drops. No side effects from the Ocusert have been noted.