Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to assess preference for fixed-combination brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (BTFC) versus fixed-combination dorzolamide 2%/timolol 0.5% (DTFC) in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.
Methods
In this prospective, single-masked crossover study, patients were randomized 1:1 to BTFC-DTFC or DTFC-BTFC treatment sequences. Patients self-administered each medication for 7 days, with a 48-hour washout period between treatments, and rated ocular discomfort after each treatment period. Medication preferences based on ocular comfort (primary endpoint) and anticipated adherence were assessed. Safety outcomes included adverse events and intraocular pressure. Between-group differences in treatment preference and ocular discomfort scores were analyzed using chi-square and Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney tests, respectively. Adherence, intraocular pressure, and adverse events were summarized descriptively.
Results
In total, 112 patients were enrolled (mean ± SD age, 66±11 years), and 109 patients completed the study. Numerically, more patients in the intent-to-treat dataset preferred BTFC versus DTFC (59.3% versus 40.7%); however, this result was not statistically significant (treatment difference, 18.6%; P=0.0670). Mean ocular discomfort scores (range, 0–9) were statistically significantly lower with BTFC versus DTFC (2.6 versus 3.7; P=0.0002, Wilcoxon– Mann–Whitney test). More patients who preferred BTFC over DTFC were confident that they would adhere to their preferred medication. Treatment-related adverse events included blurred vision with BTFC and eye irritation or eye pain with DTFC.
Conclusion
BTFC and DTFC were preferred by approximately 60% and 40% of patients, respectively, and BTFC was associated with less patient-reported ocular discomfort. Greater ocular comfort of glaucoma medications may improve treatment adherence.
Acknowledgments
Medical writing assistance was provided by Heather D Starkey, PhD of Complete Healthcare Communications, Inc. (Chadds Ford, PA, USA), and was funded by Alcon.
Disclosure
This study was funded by Alcon Laboratories, Inc. (Fort Worth, TX, USA). RA, MLS, and PF have no financial, competing, or proprietary interests to disclose. DAH is an employee of Alcon Laboratories, Inc. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.