Long-term treatment with Pilogel/beta-blocker in glaucoma patients.

In a multicentre clinical trial thirteen patients with primary open angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were followed during at least six months while selfinstilling Pilogel (once daily) and topical beta-blocker (twice daily). After six months of combination therapy there was an average decrease in intra-ocular pressure (IOP) of 33.6% 9.5 hours after Pilogel administration and an IOP decrease of 23.4% 22.5 hours after Pilogel administration. With topical beta-blocker alone, an average IOP decrease of 15% was measured. Throughout the study we observed in six patients (46.1%) a superficial punctate keratitis which mostly spontaneously cleared. We did not see any serious side-effects after six months of combination therapy.