<p>Short-Term Efficacy and Safety of Switching from a Latanoprost/Timolol Fixed Combination to a Latanoprost/Carteolol Fixed Combination</p>

Abstract

To investigate the short-term intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of switching from a fixed combination of latanoprost/timolol to a fixed combination of latanoprost/carteolol. Patients and Methods: The subjects were 30 eyes of 30 adult patients with primary openangle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, or ocular hypertension who were using a latanoprost-/timolol-fixed combination with insufficient intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy or adverse reactions. The subjects were switched from once-daily latanoprost/timolol to once-daily latanoprost/carteolol with no washout interval. Intraocular pressure, tear film break-up time, corneal epithelial defects, conjunctival hyperemia, blood pressure, and pulse rate were measured and compared before and 1 and 3 months after switching. Patients were monitored for adverse reactions at each visit, and dropouts were recorded. Results: The mean intraocular pressure at 1 month (15.9±3.1 mmHg) and 3 months (16.3 ±3.8 mmHg) was not significantly different from that at baseline (16.1±3.1 mmHg). The tear film break-up time and corneal epithelial defects were significantly improved after switching (p<0.01 and p<0.0001, respectively). There was a significant decrease in systolic blood pressure after 1 month and diastolic pressure after 3 months (p<0.05). There was no significant change in pulse rate during the study. Adverse reactions (blurred vision, blepharitis, and conjunctival hyperemia) occurred in 3 patients (10.0%). Four patients (13.3%) discontinued treatment during the 3-month study period. Conclusion: A switch from a fixed combination of latanoprost/timolol to that of latanoprost/ carteolol can maintain intraocular pressure and adherence with once-daily administration while improving tear film break-up time and corneal epithelial defects.

Topical Medication Therapy for Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension

“…LC-FC has the same IOP lowering effect as the non-fixed combination of carteolol and latanoprost (LC-nFC) and LT-FC, and exerts a greater effect than carteolol and latanoprost monotherapy ( Yamamoto et al, 2016 ; Inoue et al, 2018 ; Inoue et al, 2020b ). In the study 1 of a two phase 3 clinical trial, 220 patients were treated with LC-FC (n = 113) or latanoprost (n = 116) for 8 weeks, while in the study 2, 175 patients were treated with LC-FC (n = 76), carteolol (n = 76), or LC-nFC (n = 37) for 8 weeks.…”

“…When patients with POAG or OHT were treated with LC-nFC and then switched to LC-FC, they showed an IOP of 15.0 ± 2.6, 15.1 ± 2.4, and 15.0 ± 2.4 mmHg at baseline, month 1 and 3, respectively ( Inoue et al, 2018 ). When patients with POAG, NTG, or OHT were treated with LT-FC and then switched to LC-FC, they showed a not significantly changed mean IOP after 1 month (15.9 ± 3.1 mmHg) and 3 months (16.3 ± 3.8 mmHg) compared to the baseline IOP with LT-FC (16.1 ± 3.1 mmHg) ( Inoue et al, 2020b ).…”