[Comparison of intraocular pressure lowering efficacy of bimatoprost / timolol fixed combination and other glaucoma medications in the treatment of glaucoma].

AIM: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering efficacy of bimatoprost 0.03% / timolol 0.5% fixed combination (BTFC) and other combinations of glaucoma drugs (bimatoprost, latanoprost 0.005% / timolol 0.5% fixed combination, separate use of travoprost 0.004 % and timolol 0.5 %) in patients with glaucoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty-three patients with glaucoma were divided into 3 groups according to their original glaucoma therapy. BTFC was used by the patients for a period of 3 months. After 1 week, 1, 2 and 3 months, the diurnal IOP curves were performed. Side effects of the new treatment were recorded and compared to the original therapy. RESULTS: The mean diurnal IOP reduction in the group of patients switching from bimatoprost to BTFK reached 4.4 +/- 2.28 mm Hg (p < 0.01). In the group of patients initially on latanoprost / timolol fixed combination, the IOP decreased with BTFK by 2.3 +/- 1.5 mm Hg (p < 0.01). Changing therapy from travoprost / timolol seperate combination to BTFK caused an IOP decrease by 2.3 +/- 1.5 mm Hg on average (p < 0.01). Conjunctival hyperemia with initial therapy was experienced in 33% of patients in our study group. With BTFK application, the hyperemia improved in 69% of these patients, got worse in 12.5% and remained unchanged in 19% of the patients. Patients found the BTFK better than the original medication in 37.5% of cases, the same in 52% and worse in 10.5%. Five patients terminated the study earlier due to poor IOP compensation or marked side effects of BTFK. CONCLUSION: In all three groups of glaucoma patients there was a significant and prolonged decrease in IOP after treatment with BTFK. The use of BTFK was accompanied by smaller incidence of conjunctival hyperemia compared to isolated bimatoprost or travoprost / timolol combination.