Effects of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5% fixed-combination therapy for glaucoma

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5% fixed-combination therapy in the treatment of patients with glaucoma.

Methods: To measure the main treatment effects of a fixed combination of brimonidine 0.2%-timolol 0.5%, we conducted three small studies: (1) a comparison of diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) at baseline and at 6 months after brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy (n = 81); (2) an assessment of the effects of one drop of the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination on diurnal IOP (n = 25); and (3) the effects of brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy on the anterior ocular segment over time (n = 64).

Results: (1) After 6 months of treatment with the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination, the mean diurnal IOP in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) decreased from 21.4 ± 2.0 to 14.5 ± 3.1 mmHg (32.2%, P < 0.001), and the mean diurnal IOP in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) decreased from 13.5 ± 2.8 to 10.9 ± 2.0 mmHg (19.3%, P < 0.001). (2) After instillation with one drop of the brimonidine/timolol fixed combination, the IOP in the instilled eye was lowest at 9:00 p.m. and had decreased by 1.7 mmHg compared with the baseline IOP in the instilled eye. The difference in IOP between the instilled eye and untreated fellow eye was largest at 3:00 p.m., measuring 1.7 mmHg (P = 0.011). (3) Brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy caused significant miosis over time (P = 0.003).

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that brimonidine/timolol fixed-combination therapy has beneficial IOP-lowering effects and significant effects on pupil size.