Comparison of dorzolamide/timolol and latanoprost/timolol fixed combinations on diurnal intraocular pressure control in primary open-angle glaucoma.

To compare the efficacy and safety of dorzolamide hydrochloride 2%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination (DTFC) with latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination (LTFC) on diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Thirty-three primary open-angle glaucoma patients with IOP of 22-32 mmHg measured at any time were included. Patients were randomized to either DTFC twice daily or latanoprost 0.005%/timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination (LTFC) once a day in the evening. After a 6-week treatment period with each combination, IOP were measured every 4 h during 24 h (first diurnal curve) and after 6 weeks of washout period, the patients were switched to the other treatment for 6 weeks of the second diurnal curve. The mean baseline IOP was 25.09±2.8 mmHg. After the treatment period, mean diurnal IOP was statistically lower with LTFC (16.3 mmHg) than with DTFC (17.3 mmHg), and the peak IOP value was 18.5 mmHg with LTFC and 19.9±2.6 mmHg with DTFC (P<0.05). No significant side effects were reported except stinging and bitter taste with the DTFC group. Mean diurnal IOP and peak IOP were lower with LTFC than with DTFC in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.