Efficacy and Safety of Switching Prostaglandin Analog Monotherapy to TafluprostTimolol Fixed-Combination Therapy

Abstract EN

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.