ObjectiveTo assess ocular discomfort upon instillation and patient preference for brinzolamide/timolol relative to dorzolamide/timolol, in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.MethodsThis was a multicenter, prospective, patient-masked, randomized, crossover study. On day 0, patients received one drop of brinzolamide/timolol in one eye and one drop of dorzolamide/timolol in the contralateral eye. On day 1, patients were randomly assigned to receive one drop of either brinzolamide/timolol or dorzolamide/timolol in both eyes; on day 2, patients received one drop of the alternate treatment in both eyes. Measures included a patient preference question on day 2 (primary) and mean ocular discomfort scale scores on days 1 and 2 (secondary). Safety assessments included adverse events, visual acuity, and slit-lamp examinations.ResultsOf 120 patients who enrolled, 115 completed the study. Of these, 112 patients instilled both medications and expressed a study medication preference on day 2. A significantly greater percentage preferred brinzolamide/timolol to dorzolamide/timolol (67.0% versus 30.4%; P < 0.001). The ocular discomfort (expressed as mean [standard deviation]) with brinzolamide/timolol was significantly lower than with dorzolamide/timolol (day 2:1.9 [2.3] versus 3.7 [2.8], respectively [P = 0.0003]; both days combined: 2.1 [2.5] versus 3.5 [2.9], respectively [P = 0.00014]). On day 1, five patients receiving brinzolamide/timolol reported five nonserious adverse events (AEs): flu (n = 1), bitter taste (n = 2), and headache (n = 2). Four events, bitter taste (two events) and headache (two events), were considered related to brinzolamide/timolol. Events were mild in intensity, except bitter taste of moderate intensity reported by one patient. No AEs were reported at day 2. All AEs resolved without additional treatment. No clinically relevant changes from baseline were observed in best-corrected visual acuity or slit-lamp examinations of ocular signs.ConclusionPatients had less discomfort with brinzolamide/timolol than with dorzolamide/timolol, and more expressed a preference for brinzolamide/timolol. Both treatments were generally safe and well tolerated.

Travoprost monotherapy provided better efficacy in terms of IOP reduction and percentage of IOP reduction compared to dorzolamide 2.0%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination.

Travoprost is a prostaglandin analog used in the management of glaucoma and ocular hypertension for reducing intraocular pressure (IOP). The IOP-lowering efficacy of travoprost has been shown to be similar to that of other prostaglandins, including latanoprost and bimatoprost. When compared with fixed combinations of timolol and either latanoprost or dorzolamide, travoprost alone can reduce mean IOP in a similar or superior manner. Concomitant therapy of travoprost and timolol can reach even greater IOP reductions than fixed combinations at some time points, but with no difference in the early morning, when IOP is usually higher. In addition, the long duration of action of travoprost can also provide better control of IOP fluctuation, probably due to its stronger prostaglandin F receptor mechanism. The side effects of travoprost do not represent a risk to the vision or health of the patient. The proven efficacy and safety combined with convenient once-daily dosing for travoprost increases patient compliance with treatment for glaucoma.

Objetivo: Analisar as manifestações oculares adversas ao uso de corticosteróides na oftalmologia, apresentando indicações e vias de administração dessas drogas. Revisão bibliográfica: Os corticóides são hormônios endógenos, produzidos pelo córtex da adrenal e também podem ser obtidos de forma exógena pelas medicações. Nesse contexto, a corticoterapia é aplicada em uma gama de patologias, incluindo as oculares. Somando-se a isso, existem diversas vias de administração utilizadas na oftalmologia, como: comprimidos, injeções subconjuntivais, perioculares, intraoculares ou intravítreas e medicamentos tópicos. Apesar das vantagens da corticoterapia em tratamentos oftalmológicos, há possibilidade de ocorrência de efeitos adversos, muitas vezes graves e irreversíveis, relacionados ao uso, principalmente naqueles pacientes que fazem administração prolongada e/ou de doses elevadas. Em relação ao sistema ocular, os principais efeitos adversos são aumento da pressão intraocular, glaucoma, catarata e, raramente, endoftalmite e coriorretinite. Considerações finais: Esta revisão bibliográfica, portanto, tem como objetivo abordar o uso indispensável da corticoterapia e as ressalvas sobre o seu manejo cauteloso, com indicação e supervisão médica, baseado na clínica e no perfil do paciente.

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to determine any difference in dynamic contour tonometry and ocular pulse amplitude in asymmetric glaucoma patients with the same applanation intraocular pressure.MethodsThis is a prospective, observational study of 30 glaucoma patients and 11 controls from June 2007 to February 2008. Most of the glaucoma patients were on prostaglandin analog treatment.ResultsMean applanation intraocular pressure in the control group was 14.28 mmHg for the right eye and 14.10 mmHg for the left eye (P > 0.05). Corneal thickness was 519.10 μm for the right eye and 511.07 μm for the left eye (P > 0.05). Mean dynamic contour tonometry intraocular pressure was 17.28 mmHg for the right eye and 17.25 mmHg for the left eye (P > 0.05). Mean ocular pulse amplitude was 2.80 mmHg for the right eye and 2.92 mmHg for the left eye (P > 0.05).ConclusionNo differences in ocular pulse amplitude were found between the two groups and between the worst and the best eye. In spite of there being no difference in ocular pulse amplitude, dynamic contour tonometry intraocular pressure was 2.44 mmHg higher in the worst eye than in the best eye in the glaucoma patients, even with the same applanation intraocular pressure. Further studies are needed to confirm if this difference is related to glaucoma progression or a worst prognosis and whether it can be considered to be a new risk factor.