CLINICAL-EXPERIENCE WITH A FIXED-DOSE COMBINATION THERAPY OF TIMOLOL AND PILOCARPINE USED TWICE-DAILY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Twenty-five eyes of 25 patients with primary chronic open angle glaucoma deemed controlled for 12 months were converted from timolol 0.25% or 0.5% b.d. and pilocarpine 2% q.i.d. to a combination drop (TP2) of combined timolol 0.5% and pilocarpine 2% given b.d. Mean intraocular pressures (IOP) were 18.68 +/- 2.84 mmHg at 1 month, 18.81 +/- 2.56 mmHg at 3 months and 18.56 +/- 2.01 mmHg at 6 months. These values were significantly higher than the initial IOP of 17.48 +/- 2.2 mmHg (p values 0.0006, 0.0001 and 0.0004 respectively). However, 1 month following reconversion to initial therapy the IOP was 17.68 +/- 2.67 mmHg, which was not significantly higher than the initial IOP (p = 0.46). In addition, of 8 eyes uncontrolled during the course of the study, 6 became controlled following reconversion to initial treatment. Combination therapy of TP2 b.d. cannot be recommended to control IOP satisfactorily in patients maintained on timolol 0.25% or 0.5% b.d. and pilocarpine 2% q.i.d.