Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To compare the efficacy and safety of latanoprost and timolol gel forming solution (GFS). Methods: This was a randomized, crossover, investigator–masked, active–control study of primary open–angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients. Patients received either once–daily 0.5% timolol GFS (n = 40) or once daily 0.005% latanoprost (n = 35) for 8 weeks (Period 1). Patients were then crossed over to the other medication and treated for another 8 weeks (Period 2). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was determined every 2 hours from 8:00 to 20:00 at baseline, and Weeks 8 and 16. Safety was assessed by visual acuity, slit lamp biomicroscopy, and adverse event reports. Results: During Period 1, the reduction in mean diurnal IOP in latanoprost–treated patients was significantly greater than in timolol GFS–treated patients (–6.9 ± 3.0 mm Hg and –5.5 ± 2.4 mm Hg respectively, P = 0.034). There was also a significant reduction from baseline in IOP after switching from timolol GFS to latanoprost (P < 0.001), not observed when patients were switched from latanoprost to timolol GFS. Latanoprost reduced IOP more than timolol GFS after combining each drug’s treatment periods between treatment arms (–6.9 ± 2.9 mm Hg and –6.2 ± 2.7 mm Hg respectively, P = 0.018). The most common adverse events in both treatment groups were hyperemia (44%), blepharitis (17%) and erythema (11%). Four patients withdrew early, two for potential drug related events, one on latanoprost had conjunctival erythema and one on timolol GFS had increased heart rate and blood pressure. Conclusions: Latanoprost is more effective than timolol GFS in reducing IOP and patients switched from timolol GFS to latanoprost have a further significant reduction in IOP.
Keywords: intraocular pressure • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled