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Anastasios G. P. Konstas, MD, PhD; Symeon Lake, MD; Athanasios I. Economou, MD; Kostantinos Kaltsos, MD; Jessica N. Jenkins, BS; William C. Stewart, MD

Arch Ophthalmol. 2006;124:1553-1557.

Objective  To evaluate 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP) control with an evening-dosed latanoprost–timolol maleate fixed combination vs timolol alone in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Methods  After a medicine-free period, qualified patients were randomized to either placebo dosed in the morning with a latanoprost-timolol fixed combination dosed in the evening or timolol alone dosed twice daily for 8 weeks. Patients were then switched to the opposite treatment for 8 weeks. At baseline and at the end of each treatment period, patients underwent IOP measurements.

Results  Both treatments reduced the IOP from untreated baseline at each time point and for the 24-hour curve (P<.001). When treatments were compared, the latanoprost-timolol fixed combination decreased the IOP more than timolol alone at each time point and for the 24-hour curve (2.9 mm Hg), and provided a lower absolute IOP at each time point (P<.001) and for the range (fluctuation) in IOP (P = .003) and for the 24-hour curve. Several adverse effects were observed more often with the latanoprost-timolol fixed combination, including ocular stinging (P = .05), conjunctival hyperemia (P = .02), and ocular itching (P = .04).

Conclusion  The evening-dosed latanoprost-timolol fixed combination may provide better IOP control than timolol alone over 24 hours and may demonstrate a narrower range of IOP fluctuation in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

Author Affiliations: Glaucoma Unit, A University Department of Ophthalmology, AHEPA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece (Drs Konstas, Lake, Economou, and Kaltsos); Pharmaceutical Research Network, LLC, Charleston, SC (Ms Jenkins and Dr Stewart); and Carolina Eye Institute at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia (Dr Stewart).