Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the ocular tolerability of topical drug treatments of brimonide tartrate-timolol maleate, dorzolamid hydrochloride-timolol maleate and latanoprost-timolol maleate in patients with primary open angle glaucoma.

Material and Methods: A total of 58 patients (116 eyes) with the diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma assigned randomly to three groups [group 1 (brimonide tartrate-timolol maleate), n1 =18 patients (34 eyes); group 2 (dorzolamid hydrochloride-timolol maleate), n2=20 patients (34 eyes); group 3 (latanoprost-timolol maleate), n3=20 patients (38 eyes)] were enrolled in the Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Pamukkale University between February and July, 2009. Mean scores for side effects at the five-minute and second month after the initiation of drugs were recorded and compared with each other of the patients.

Results: Mean scores for side effects in the initiation of drugs after the five minutes were 0.44±0.51 for group 1, 0.55±0.32 for group 2, and 0.49±0.41 for group 3, respectively. For all the three groups, a statistically significant difference was not determined (p>0.05). The mean scores of side effects obtained from the second month from group 1 to group 3 were founded as 0.41±0.39, 0.60±0.71 and 0.51±0.65, respectively. For all the three groups, a statistically significant difference was not determined (p>0.05).

Conclusion: Ocular side effects were observed at the tolerable level in all three drugs. Ocular side effects of each drug were evaluated to be similar.

Key Words: Brimonidin; Dorzolamid; Latanoprost; Primary Open Angle Glaucoma; Ocular Discomfort Scala; Timolol; Ocular Tolerability.