A short-term study of the additive effect of latanoprost 0.005% and brimonidine 0.2%

Purpose: To evaluate the short-term additive effects of latanoprost 0.005% and brimonidine 0.2%. Methods: This study was a randomized, double-masked, cross-over study that included 32 patients (32 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma. On baseline day, intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured at 10 AM and 11 PM. Baseline IOP values were obtained by calculating the mean values for both eyes. After this process, latanoprost 0.005% was prescribed once a day during the first 5 days at 10 PM as the first test drug. During the second 5 days, twice a day brimonidine 0.2% or a placebo, as the second test drug, was added to the latanoprost at 9 AM and 10 PM. After a 4-week washout period, latanoprost 0.005% was prescribed once a day during the first 5 days at 10 PM and during the second 5 days, the second test drug, brimonidine or a placebo, was added to latanoprost, and the two drugs were prescribed twice a day for 5 days. Results: During the second 5 days, although an additional 2.53-3.10 mm Hg decrease in IOP was determined in the latanoprost + brimonidine group, there was no additional decrease in the latanoprost + placebo group. Conclusions: This study showed that brimonidine and latanoprost have an additive IOP-lowering effect in open-angle glaucoma patients in the short term. (C) 2003 Japanese Ophthalmological Society.