Glaucoma medications go the distance

Dorzolamide/timolol fixed combinations (DTFC) and latanoprost achieve consistent 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) control and obtain a significant increase in 24-hour diastolic ocular perfusion pressure over a six-month treatment period, according to Anastasios Konstas from the AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.

Fifty-three patients with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) with an average 24-hour IOP of 25.2±2.3 mmHg were enrolled to take part in a prospective, single-masked, crossover study.

At six-months, the 24-hour IOP for those in the DTFC group was 18.2±1.9 mmHg and 18.3±1.9 mmHg for those in the latanoprost group. However, DTFC demonstrated superior IOP reduction at 10:00 hours (-0.8 mmHg, p=0.01) and at 22:00 hours (-1.1 mmHg, p<0.0001).

These results demonstrated that DTFC and latanoprost remain effective 24-hour treatments for glaucoma, even after six-months' intensive treatment.