The Usefulness of the Uniocular Drug Trial in the Glaucoma Eyes

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to evaluate if the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) observed in a uniocular trial correlates with an IOP reduction observed in the fellow eye. METHODS: The study was performed on forty patients with bilateral glaucoma or suspect glaucoma who underwent a uniocular trial of 0.005% latanoprost and subsequently received the same drug in the fellow eye after 1 week. Inter-eye IOP variations were less than 3 mm Hg over two measurements, and were followed minimally for 4 weeks. The uniocular IOP reduction (IOP before medication - IOP after medication) and the net IOP reduction (IOP change in the trial eye after medication - IOP change in the fellow eye) were calculated. The uniocular IOP reduction and net IOP reduction in the trial eye was compared with the results from the fellow eye. RESULTS: The mean uniocular IOP reduction in the trial eye and the fellow eye were 3.6+/-2.42 mm Hg and 2.78+/-2.16 mm Hg, respectively (r=0.390, r2=0.152, P=0.013). The mean net IOP reduction in the trial eye and the opposing eye were 3.55+/-1.70 mm Hg and 3.15+/-1.83 mm Hg, respectively (r=0.782, r2=0.612, P=0.000). CONCLUSIONS: A uniocular drug trial in patients with similar IOPs between their eyes can adequately predict the IOP lowering effect of a medication.