Circadian intraocular pressure and blood pressure reduction with timolol 0.5% solution and timogel 0.1% in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To investigate the circadian and blood pressure (BP) reduction obtained with timolol maleate 0.5% solution administered twice daily versus timolol 0.1% in gel-forming carbomer administered in the morning in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).

METHODS

This investigator-masked, crossover study prospectively enrolled naive POAG patients not receiving systemic cardiovascular medications. Following a baseline evaluation, they were randomized to receive a timolol 0.5% solution or timolol 0.1% hydrogel for 2 months and then switched to the alternative medication for a further 2 months. Intraocular pressure (IOP) phasing (sitting Goldmann tonometry at 10 am, 2 pm, 6 pm, and 10 pm and supine Perkins tonometry at 2 am and 6 am) and ambulatory home BP monitoring were measured at baseline and after each treatment period.

RESULTS

On the basis of a prospective sample size estimate, 28 patients were analyzed. Mean 24-hour IOP decreased from 23.1 ± 0.7 mm Hg at baseline to 18.9 ± 0.6 mm Hg after timolol 0.5% and 18.9 ± 0.8 mm Hg after timolol 0.1% hydrogel (P < .001); both formulations also significantly decreased diurnal, nocturnal, and individual time point IOP in a statistically similar manner. Systolic and diastolic BP remained generally unaffected. The calculated diastolic ocular perfusion pressure was either unaffected or tended to increase with either medication.

CONCLUSION

Both timolol formulations show similar and significant circadian efficacy and have minimal effects on BP and calculated diastolic ocular perfusion pressure.