Aims: The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of timolol gel-forming solution
as a monotherapy and to compare the efficacy of timolol gel-forming solution morning
instillation versus at night application in Asians with newly diagnosed open-angle glaucoma.
Methods: A retrospective, comparative, parallel group study was conducted on 78 eligible
patients diagnosed with open-angle glaucoma who received topical timolol gel-forming solution
either on morning (AM dosing group; 39 patients) or evening (PM dosing group; 39 patients)
as monotherapy treatment. Intraocular pressure was taken at baseline, 1, 3, 6, and 12
months post-treatment.
Results: Mean baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) for timolol gel-forming solution in general
was 22.7 ± 6.6 mmHg with the mean IOP reduction of 5.7 ± 5.3 mmHg (23.1% reduction).
The mean IOP reduction of the AM dosing group was 7.5 ± 5.2 mmHg (31.0% reduction) and
3.9 ± 4.9 mmHg (15.1% reduction) in the PM dosing group (P = 0.0002). There was a statistically
significant difference of IOP reductions between AM and PM dosing group at 1 month
(P = 0.041), 3 months (P = 0.037) and 12 months (P = 0.015) post-treatment. Seventy-five percent
(24) of good responders was in the AM group and 67.4% (31) of poor responders were patients
in the PM group.
Conclusion: Timolol gel-forming solution is effective in reducing IOP in Asian eyes. Morning
dosing was more effective in lowering the IOP compared to evening dosing.
