Efficacy and Safety of Switching Prostaglandin Analog Monotherapy to Tafluprost/Timolol Fixed-Combination Therapy.

PURPOSE: To assess the efficacy and safety of switching from prostaglandin analog (PGA) monotherapy to tafluprost/timolol fixed-combination (Taf/Tim) therapy. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, normal-tension glaucoma, or ocular hypertension who had received PGA monotherapy for at least 3 months were enrolled. Patients were examined at 1, 2, and 3 months after changing therapies. Subsequently, the patients were returned to PGA monotherapy. The examined parameters included intraocular pressure (IOP) and adverse events. A questionnaire survey was conducted after the switch to Taf/Tim therapy. RESULTS: Forty patients with a mean age of 66.5 ± 10.3 years were enrolled; 39 of these patients completed the study protocol. Switching to Taf/Tim significantly reduced the IOP from 18.2 ± 2.6 mmHg at baseline to 14.8 ± 2.5 mmHg at 1 month, 15.2 ± 2.8 mmHg at 2 months, and 14.9 ± 2.5 mmHg at 3 months (P < 0.001). Switching back to the original PGA monotherapy returned the IOP values to baseline levels. Taf/Tim reduced the pulse rate insignificantly. No significant differences were observed in blood pressure, conjunctival hyperemia, or corneal adverse events. A questionnaire showed that the introduction of Taf/Tim did not significantly influence symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with PGA monotherapy, Taf/Tim fixed-combination therapy significantly reduced IOP without severe adverse events.

The efficacy and safety of add-on 0.1% brimonidine tartrate preserved with sodium chlorite in on-treatment Japanese normal-tension glaucoma patients.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of newly formulated brimonidine (0.1% brimonidine tartrate preserved with sodium chlorite: brimonidine) as add-on therapy in on-treatment Japanese normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) patients. METHODS: Brimonidine was added to on-treatment NTG patients with intraocular pressures (IOP) of between 13 mmHg and 16 mmHg after three consecutive IOP measurements. The time courses of IOP, conjunctival hyperemia, superficial punctate keratitis, and adverse events were examined at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after brimonidine instillation. RESULTS: Though 75 of 83 patients (31 males and 52 females; mean age: 63.4±11.6 years) completed the study, six patients discontinued because of side effects and two patients withdrew. The mean IOP after brimonidine addition at week 4 (12.6±1.8 mmHg, P<0.001), week 8 (12.4±1.7 mmHg, P<0.001), and week 12 (12.6±1.8 mmHg, P<0.001) was significantly decreased compared with that before the addition of brimonidine (13.9±1.2 mmHg). No significant changes in superficial punctate keratitis or conjunctival hyperemia scores were observed throughout the study. Dizziness, sleepiness, eye pain, and itching (mild to moderate) were noted in five, four, three, and three patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of newly formulated brimonidine to on-treatment Japanese NTG patients with IOP of 13-16 mmHg further reduced the levels of IOP with minimal side effects and adverse events.

A prospective study of iridial pigmentation and eyelash changes due to ophthalmic treatment with latanoprost.

PURPOSE: To conduct a 12-month prospective study on the occurrence of latanoprost-induced iridial pigmentation and eyelash change in Japanese patients with glaucoma METHODS: Seventy-five patients (75 eyes) were enrolled in the study. Photographs of the iris and eyelashes were taken under identical conditions before and after treatment. Three glaucoma specialists assessed the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change independently with no knowledge of patient data. The effects of age, sex, concomitant medication, and type of glaucoma on iridial pigmentation/eyelash change were investigated, and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction and iridocorneal angle pigmentation before and after latanoprost treatment were compared between patients with iridial pigmentation/eyelash change and patients without these changes. RESULTS: The incidence of iridial pigmentation was 6.3% at 1 month, 15.7% at 3 months, 37.8% at 6 months, and 56.5% at 12 months. The incidence of eyelash change was 0% at 1 month, 33.8% at 3 months, 44.4% at 6 months, and 46.2% at 12 months. Latanoprost did not affect IOP reduction or iridocorneal angle pigmentation. No significant relationship between iridial pigmentation and eyelash change was observed. None of the investigated parameters except age affected the iridial pigmentation/eyelash change. CONCLUSION: Iridial pigmentation and eyelash change occurred at a high frequency in long-term treatment with latanoprost in Japanese glaucoma patients.

Ocular manifestations and prognosis of secondary glaucoma in patients with carotid-cavernous fistula.

PURPOSE: To study the frequency of ocular manifestations and the prognosis of secondary glaucoma in cases of carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF). METHODS: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted to investigate causes, types, ocular symptoms, complications, treatment, and prognosis in subjects with CCF. RESULTS: Among the 43 patients diagnosed with CCF between 1984 and 2000, a total of 13 patients (14 eyes) showed ocular manifestations. CCF was idiopathic in 13 eyes of 12 subjects and resulted from head trauma in 1 eye of 1 subject. Among the ocular symptoms and complications, conjunctival hyperemia was most common, occurring at a rate of 92.9% of the eyes, followed by exophthalmos at 50%, retinal hemorrhaging at 50%, retinal venous dilation at 42.9%, vascular bruits at 28.6%, injection of Schlemm's canal at 21.4%, and external ophthalmoplegia at 21.4%. Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) occurred at a rate of 64.3%, with maximum IOP ranging from 22-55 mm Hg. At the time of the final observation, IOP control was favorable in 6 of the 9 eyes showing elevated IOP; 5 of these 9 eyes showed a closed CCF, but none required antiglaucoma treatment, with the exception of 1 eye for which trabeculectomy was performed. IOP control was unfavorable in the remaining 3 eyes, and in 1 of these eyes CCF was not closed. CONCLUSIONS: Secondary glaucoma is a frequently observed ocular manifestation of CCF, and closure of the fistula is the primary condition required for favorable IOP control.