Efficacy and Safety of Latanoprost Versus the Pilocarpine/Timolol Maleate Fixed Combination in Patients with Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma or Ocular Hypertension

Purpose: To compare efficacy and safety of latanoprost versus pilocarpine/timolol fixed combination (PTFC) in patients with POAG or OHT. Methods: Patients were randomized for Period I to latanoprost qPM or PTFC BID. Following 8 weeks of treatment patients had IOP measured at 08:00, 10:00, 16:00 and 18:00, Patients then were switched to the opposite treatment and had a 2nd diurnal evaluation at the end of Period 2. Results: 32 patients completed this study who showed a diurnal baseline IOP of 24.1 +/- 2.4 mm Hg. On PTFC the diurnal IOP was 16.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg and 16.9 +/- 2.5 mm Hg on latanoprost (P = 0.60). At individual time points no statistical difference between treatments was observed except at 10:00 when PTFC had all IOP of 15.9 +/- 2.3 mm Hg and latanoprost 16.8 +/- 2.7 mm Fig (P = 0.02). There were no differences between groups in unsolicited adverse events (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Both PTFC and latanoprost are efficacious in reducing diurnal IOP. However, PTFC may be more effective in the late morning.