ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness and tolerability of systematically switching glaucoma patients from latanoprost 0.005% and timolol 0.5% (Lat + Tim) to a fixed combination of travoprost 0.004%/timolol 0.5% (TTFC), and to record the effects of this switch on tear-film break-up time (TBUT). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction, patients reaching IOP < 18 mmHg; the rate of discontinuation; TBUT; and the onset of adverse events (AEs). METHODS: Multicenter, observational cohort, 6-month study: 309 patients on concomitant Lat + Tim were switched to TTFC (evening dosage). IOP, TBUT, and AEs were recorded at baseline and after 1 and 6 months. RESULTS: IOP was significantly decreased (from 18.3 +/- 2.9 to 16.6 +/- 2.7 mmHg) after substitution (p < 0.0001). Many patients (82%) reached an IOP < 18 mmHg (p < 0.0001). TBUT improved significantly (from 8.4 +/- 3.6 to 9.2 +/- 3.8 s, p < 0.0001). A few patients reported AEs (8.7%), which caused discontinuation in a low percentage (4.5%). CONCLUSION: TTFC appeared useful in this selected population. In this study, patients who underwent a regimen modification to TTFC obtained further reduction in IOP with a lower exposition to preservative toxicity. The low discontinuation rate at 6 months indicates a good tolerability profile.