Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: to evaluate the IOP lowering efficacy and safety of bimatoprost 0.03% once daily compared to the efficacy and safety of the association of timolol 0.5% once daily to latanoprost 0.005% once daily in open angle glaucoma patients. Methods: in this 6-months prospective, parallel, randomised, investigator masked clinical trial 61 glaucomatous patients (30 males, 31 females, mean age 59.4±14.1) with an IOP ≥ 21 mmHg with timolol 0.5% twice daily therapy in both eyes, were randomly assigned to substitute timolol 0.5% with bimatoprost 0.03% topically in both eyes once daily in the evening (Group I, 31 patients) or add latanoprost 0.005% in the evening to timolol 0.5% gellan solution in the morning (Group II, 30 patients). Visual acuity, biomicroscopy, ophthalmoscopy were performed at baseline visit and at day 15, 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180; IOP measurements were performed at 8.00, 12.00, 16.00, 20.00 at each study visit. Standard color photography has been used to rate the incidence and the severity of ocular hyperemia and eyelash growth. Results: the baseline mean IOP was 23.3±3 mmHg for group I and 24.4±4.7 mmHg in group II and the difference was not statistical significant (p=0.3). Both treatment regimens lowered significantly IOP at every follow-up visit (p<0.01) and the reduction from baseline was similar in the two groups at each time point considered. A significant higher percentage of patients in group I reached values of target pressure ≤ 16 mmHg if compared to group II (p<0.01). Ocular hyperemia occurred more frequently in group I and it was well tolerated, not associated to ocular symptoms and its severity decreased over time during the study period. Eyelash growth was observed only in group I in 50% of patients. Conclusions: bimatoprost therapy should be considered as a valid alternative to the timolol and latanoprost combination, based on its efficacy in reaching low target IOPs.
Keywords: intraocular pressure • pharmacology • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: tre