Effectivness of brimonidin and dorsolamid as additional therapy to beta‐blockers‐comparable analysis

Abstract

AbstractPurpose The aim of this survey is comparison of brimonidin and dorsolamid effect as an additional therapy for primary open angle glaucoma patients already treated with beta‐blockers.Methods Primary open angle glaucoma patients treated with beta‐blockers and who had unregulated IOP were divided in two groups: the first one was additionally treated with 0,2% Brimonidin, and the second one with 2% Trusopt. The therapy was administered twice a day to all the patients. IOP and visual field changes and progression were followed up in next six months. Analysis and comparison of IOP and computerised visual field was done after 4, 12, 16 and 24 weeks from the treatment beginning.Results We have followed up 80 patients in total, 40 in the group treated with 0,2% Brimonidin and 40 in the group treated with 2% Trusopt. 48 patients or 60% were women. We didn’t noticed any significant differences in visual field defects progression during the six months period between these two groups, but middle IOP decrease was 4.2mmHg in the first and 3.0mmHg in the second; that presents high statistical significance. From 15.6% patients (13 in total; 6 in the 0.2% Brimonidin group and 7 in the 2% Trusopt group) with significant visual field defects at the end of study, 85% (11 patients) had those defects already in the first week, at the beginning of additional therapy.Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference between these two groups in the visual field defects prevention and progression during six months period of treatment. Middle IOP decrease in these two groups was significant. Key words: glaucoma, optic nerve, 0.2% Brimonidin, 2% Dorsolamid, beta‐blockers.