Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Compare the IOP–lowering efficacy and quality of life in patients using brimonidine 0.15% or timolol 0.5% monotherapy for the treatment of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Methods: Randomized, investigator–masked, 3–month, multicenter clinical trial. Patients (n=59) with an unmedicated IOP > 22 mm Hg were randomized to brimonidine Purite or timolol BID (8AM/8PM) for 3 months. Study visits were at baseline, month 1, and month 3. IOP was evaluated at both trough drug effect (8AM) and peak drug effect (10 AM) at each follow–up visit. Results: Baseline mean IOP was 25.1 mm Hg in the brimonidine Purite group and 25.6 mm Hg in the timolol group (P=.542). Both medications provided statistically significant reductions in IOP from baseline at each follow–up study visit (P<.001). After 3 months, the mean IOP reduction at trough drug effect was 4.8 mm Hg (19%) in brimonidine Purite–treated patients, compared with 4.7 mm Hg (18%) in timolol–treated patients (P=.954). The mean peak IOP reduction was 7.4 mm Hg (29%) with brimonidine P and 7.1 mm Hg (28%) with timolol (P=.801). There were no significant between–group differences in quality of life measures, rates of discontinuation, adverse event incidence, or clinical success responses. Conclusions: Brimonidine Purite and timolol provided equivalent IOP lowering when used as monotherapy for the treatment of glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Brimonidine Purite is an effective alternative to timolol for IOP lowering in patients with glaucoma and ocular hypertension.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: treatment/prevention assessment/controlled