Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and quality-of-life effects of dual therapy with brimonidine/latanoprost compared with timolol/dorzolamide combination therapy.
Methods: Prospective, double-masked, randomized, parallel-group, 8-week study. Patients currently controlled with and candidates for dual therapy received brimonidine/latanoprost dual therapy (N=12) or timolol/dorzolamide combination (N=9). Visits were at prestudy, baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8. Patients responded to a quality-of-life effects questionnaire at each visit. At week 8, the patient’s physician determined whether the patient was clinically successful based on IOP, quality-of-life effects, and adverse events.
Results: At 4 weeks, the mean ± SD reduction of IOP from baseline was –10.6 ± 3.5 mmHg (39 ± 13%) with brimonidine/latanoprost and –6.2 ± 1.8 mmHg (24 ± 7%) with timolol/dorzolamide (P = 0.001). The mean ± SD IOP reduction at 8 weeks was –9.1 ± 4.4 mmHg (34 ± 16%) with brimonidine/latanoprost and –6.4 ± 2.6 mmHg (25 ± 10%) with timolol/dorzolamide (P = 0.016). All brimonidine/latanoprost patients stated that the study treatment was more comfortable than their previous therapy; 2/9 timolol/dorzolamide patients stated that the study treatment was less comfortable than their previous therapy. 9/12 (75%) of patients on brimonidine/latanoprost were clinically successful, while 5/9 (56%) of patients were successful with timolol/dorzolamide (NS, Chi-square).
Conclusion: Patients with glaucoma or ocular hypertension who are candidates for dual therapy may be more effectively controlled with brimonidine/latanoprost compared with timolol/dorzolamide combination.
CR: C5 Supported in part by an unrestricted grant from Allergan.