Purpose: To evaluate the effects of dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination (D/T ) compared to latanoprost on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pulsatile ocular blo od flow (POBF) in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients. Methods: Thirty patients with POAG were randomized in an open-label, crossover study. Intraocul ar pressure reduction was achieved by 4 weeks medical therapy with D/T twice dai ly or latanoprost 0.005%dosed once in the evening. During a 4-week run-in and a 4-week wash-out period between study arms, patients ceased use of all other glaucoma medications and used timolol maleate 0.5%twice daily. Primary efficac y variables were IOP and POBF. Results: There was no difference in baseline IOP and POBF parameters between the two study arms. Both D/T and latanoprost statist ically significantly reduced IOP by 4.6 mmHg(P < 0.000 1) and 3.75 mmHg (P < 0.0 00 1)-and increased POBF by 2.048 μl/second (P=0.003 0) and 2.147 μl/second ( P=0.000 9), respectively. Repeated measures ANOVA detected significant changes i n POBF with treatment (P=0.036 1). Dorzolamide/timolol fixed combination statist ically significantly increased pulse volume by 0.767μl (P=0.008 7), while latan oprost therapy had no significant effect (P=0.240 7). Conclusions: Both drugs ha d similar effects in terms of IOP reduction. Dorzolamide/timolol significantly i ncreased pulse volume while latanoprost had no effect. Further studies are neces sary to establish whether the enhancement of choroidal blood flow can prevent gl aucoma progression.
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