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Purpose: To compare the effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) of latanoprost 0.005% and the fixed combination of dorzolamide 2% and timolol 0.5%., Methods: Overall, 226 patients whose IOP was insufficiently controlled by timolol alone were randomized to receive either latanoprost once daily or the fixed combination of dorzolamide plus timolol twice daily. Intraocular pressure was measured at 10:00 am and 5:00 pm at baseline and after 3 months of treatment., Results: Mean IOP was reduced from baseline in both groups (p < 0.001), with a mean +/- SEM reduction of - 4.3 +/- 0.3 mmHg (19%) for the latanoprost treatment group and - 4.0 +/- 0.3 mmHg (17%) for the dorzolamide plus timolol treatment group. The two therapies were similarly effective in lowering IOP levels (mean difference in reduction: - 0.4 +/- 0.4; 95% confidence interval: - 1.1, 0.4)., Conclusions: Monotherapy with latanoprost once daily was as effective in reducing mean IOP as the fixed combination of dorzolamide plus timolol twice daily in patients with IOP insufficiently controlled by timolol alone.

Purpose: To compare the effect on intraocular pressure of latanoprost versus timolol plus dorzolamide in open-angle glaucoma., Methods: Thirty-five patients with open-angle glaucoma were randomized, 18 to latanoprost once daily and 17 to timolol plus dorzolamide twice daily. Intraocular pressure and ocular side effects were recorded at baseline, and after 2 weeks and 3 months of treatment., Results: Latanoprost reduced the intraocular pressure 1.09 and 1.58 mm Hg more than timolol plus dorzolamide after 2 weeks and 3 months of treatment, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p<0.05) at the end of the study. After 3 months of treatment, 32.3% of the eyes in the latanoprost group reduced the intraocular pressure in 30% or more with respect to baseline, while 15.6% of the eyes in the timolol plus dorzolamide group achieved this reduction., Conclusions: Latanoprost administered once daily reduced the intraocular pressure at least as well as timolol plus dorzolamide twice daily in patients with open-angle glaucoma.

We know very little about the relationship between the diurnal intraocular pressure variations and the progression of visual field loss. A prospective study of 149 eyes of 149 patients suffering from intraocular hypertension has been carried out through a minimum period of five years. At least 4 years before the appearance of field defects, we detected significant oscillations of IOP in the 64% of the cases prone to develop visual field loss. Likewise, we have found a statistically significant relationship between the presence of defects in the RNFL (retinal nerve fiber layer) and the existence of significant oscillations of IOP.