Comparison of the ocular hypotensive efficacy of adjunctive brimonidine 0.15% or brinzolamide 1% in combination with travoprost 0.004%.

PURPOSE: To compare efficacies of adjunctive therapy with brimonidine 0.15% and adjunctive therapy with brinzolamide 1% in combination with travoprost 0.004%.

DESIGN: Three-month randomized, parallel-group, double-masked, multicenter clinical trial.

PARTICIPANTS: Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, exfoliation glaucoma, or ocular hypertension with intraocular pressure (IOP) > 18 mmHg on monotherapy with travoprost (N = 163).

METHODS: Patients were randomized to receive adjunctive therapy with twice-daily brimonidine (N = 79) or twice-daily brinzolamide (N = 84). Treatment efficacy was assessed after 1 and 3 months of combination therapy. Intraocular pressure was measured at 8 am, noon, and 4 pm at baseline (on travoprost monotherapy) and after 3 months of combination therapy. Mean diurnal IOP was defined as the average of the IOP measurements at these 3 time points. Adverse events were recorded at each visit.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Difference between treatment groups in mean diurnal IOP at month 3, adjusted for difference in baseline IOP, using analysis of covariance.

RESULTS: Mean diurnal IOPs (+/- standard error of the mean) at baseline were 21.7+/-0.33 mmHg in the brimonidine group and 21.1+/-0.29 mmHg in the brinzolamide group (P = 0.16). Mean diurnal IOPs at month 3 were 19.6+/-0.41 mmHg in the brimonidine group and 18.4+/-0.33 mm Hg in the brinzolamide group (P = 0.019). At month 3, mean diurnal IOPs, adjusted for difference in baseline IOP, were 19.3+/-0.27 in the brimonidine group and 18.6+/-0.25 in the brinzolamide group (P = 0.035).

CONCLUSIONS: The combination of travoprost and brinzolamide was statistically significantly more efficacious than the combination of travoprost and brimonidine in lowering IOP. The clinical significance of this difference is uncertain.