Efficacy of the latanoprost versus timolol/dorzolamide combination therapy in patients with primary open angle glaucoma

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of latanoprost and combination of dorzolamide and timolol over 6 months. Methods: The study was designed as a 6 months randomized, observer-masked study comprising 120 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in Feiz Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, from 2006 to 2007. The patients were randomized (latanoprost, n = 60; dorzolamide/timolol, n = 60) to treatment with either latanoprost, 0.005% once daily, or the combination of timolol 0.5% twice daily, and dorzolamide 2% 3 times daily. The main intraocular pressure (IOP) after one, 3, and 6 months of treatment was compared with baseline in the 2 groups. Results: A total of 120 patients were randomized to 2 equal treatment groups. The mean baseline IOP values were similar between the 2 groups. The mean (standard error of mean [SE]) IOP reductions at months one was 7.2 (0.4), at month 3 was 7.3 (0.4), and at month 6 was 7.1 (0.3) mm Hg for the latanoprost group and 7.5 (0.3), 7.8 (0.3), and 7.4 (0.3) mm Hg for the dorzolamide/timolol group. The 2 therapies were similarly effective. Conclusion: The latanoprost and dorzolamide/timolol combination were equally effective at lowering IOP compared to untreated baseline.