Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), the most common form of glaucoma, left untreated results in gradual loss of vision. Decreasing intra ocular pressure (IOP) by drugs can halt disease progression. The drugs currently available for treatment of POAG are-blockers, sympathomimetics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) and prostaglandin analogues. To assess the safety and tolerability of 2% dorzolamide and 0.5% timolol maleate in POAG patients, a prospective, comparative study was undertaken, enrolling 60 patients with POAG (30 in each group) attending Ophthalmology out patient department in Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Science hospital and research centre. Dorzolamide was instilled thrice daily and timolol maleate twice daily for 28days. IOP was measured on day zero, 14th and 28th day. Visual acuity and side effects were looked for at each visit.
The mean reduction of IOP was 19.95% with dorzolamide and 21.5% with timolol maleate. Both the drugs were tolerated very well without any systemic adverse effects and the local side effects were comparatively less with dorzolamide. Efficacy of dorzolamide in decreasing IOP in POAG patients was almost comparable to timolol, and dorzolamide appeared to be relatively better tolerated.
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