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Objective: To evaluate open-angle glaucoma patients, who were insufficiently controlled on latanoprost mono- therapy, to determine the 24 h intraocular pressure (lOP) efficacy and safety when changing them to dorzolamide/timolol (DTFC) or latanoprost/timolol fixed combination (LTFC) or adding DTFC. Methods: A prospective, observer-masked, placebo-controlled, crossover, comparison. Consecutive adults with primary open-angle or exfoliative glaucoma who exhibit a mean baseline lOP >21 mm Hg on latanoprost monotherapy were randomised for 3 months to: OTFC, LTFC or DTFC and latanoprost. Patients were then crossed over to the next treatment for periods 2 and 3. At the end of the latanoprost run-in and after each 3-month treatment period, patients underwent 24 h lOP monitoring. Results: 31 patients completed this study. All three adjunctive therapies significantly reduced the lOP at each time point and for the mean 24 h curve, except at 18:00 and 02:00 with DTFC and 02:00 with LTFC. When the three treatments were compared directly, the DTFC and latanoprost therapy demonstrated lower lOPs versus the other treatment groups, including: the mean 24 h pressure, maximum as well as minimum levels and individual time points following a modified Bonferroni correction (p<0.0032). Conclusions: This study showed DTFC, LTFC and the addition of DTFC to latanoprost significantly decrease the lOP compared with latanoprost alone, but the latter therapy regime yields the greatest OP reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To evaluate 24 h intraocular pressure (lOP) and blood pressure (BP) with bimatoprost or latanoprost in patients with normal-tension glaucoma. Design: Prospective, randomised, crossover, active-controlled, observer-masked study. Methods: After a 6-week medicine-free period, we randomised patients to either latanoprost or bimatoprost for 8 weeks and then to the opposite medicine for 8 weeks. At baseline, and at the end of each treatment period, we evaluated lOP and BP at 08:00 and then every 2 h over the 24 h day. Diastolic ocular perfusion pressure (DOPP) was calculated from the above parameters. Results: Forty completed patients had a 24 h untreated baseline lOP of 15.5 (2.3) mm Hg, and a DOPP of 59.2 (6.1) mm Hg. Both treatments lowered lOP at each time point (p<0.006), and over the 24 h curve (p<0.001, both medicines 13.1 mm Hg, 16% decrease). No difference existed between treatments in absolute lOP, at each time point, and over the 24 h curve (p⩾0.26). Additionally, no differences were found between treated 24 h systolic (p⩾0.29) and diastolic BP )p⩾0.12). The mean 24 h DOPP for latanoprost was increased from baseline (3%, p = 0.031) but not for bimatoprost (2%, p = 0.21). However, no difference in DOPP existed between treatments at any time point or over the 24 h curve (p⩾0.17). No difference was observed between treatments for any adverse event (p>0.05). Conclusions: In patients with normal-tension glaucoma, both bimatoprost and latanoprost reduce the 24 h intraocular pressure from untreated baseline to a similar extent. Latanoprost is associated with slightly improved ocular diastolic perfusion pressure over 24 h but similar absolute perfusion levels to that of bimatoprost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A response by W. C. Stewart, R. Feldman and M. A. Mychaskiw to a letter to the editor about their article regarding the evidence of ocular blood flow in the pathogenesis and treatment of glaucoma..