Ocular comfort of brinzolamide 1.0% ophthalmic suspension compared with dorzolamide 2.0% ophthalmic solution: results from two multicenter comfort studies. Brinzolamide Comfort Study Group.

Two independent, prospective, multicenter, double-masked, parallel group trials were conducted to compare the ocular comfort of brinzolamide 1.0% administered three times daily (t.i.d.) with t.i.d.-dosed dorzolamide 2.0% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Patients were randomized to one of two treatment groups, receiving either brinzolamide 1.0% t.i.d. or dorzolamide 2.0% t.i.d. for 1 week. On the last day of dosing, patients received one drop of masked medication in both eyes, and ocular discomfort (burning or stinging) was evaluated by means of a 4-unit ocular discomfort scale. The incidence and extent of ocular discomfort across both treatment groups were analyzed. The results from both studies were confirmatory and demonstrated that the ocular discomfort score for brinzolamide 1.0% was 1.3 units lower than the score for dorzolamide 2.0%, which was both statistically significant and clinically relevant. In addition, a statistically significantly greater percentage of patients reported no ocular discomfort with brinzolamide 1.0% compared with dorzolamide. A greater percentage of patients receiving dorzolamide 2.0% also reported mild, moderate, severe, and very severe ocular discomfort compared with those treated with brinzolamide 1.0%. The most frequent ocular adverse event reported in the brinzolamide group was transient blurred vision, which ranged from 20% to 25%. Overall, adverse events associated with brinzolamide 1.0% and dorzolamide 2.0% were nonserious, were usually mild, and resolved without treatment. The findings of each study independently demonstrated that brinzolamide 1.0% was significantly more comfortable than dorzolamide 2.0% when instilled in the eye.