Purpose: The aim of this study was evaluate the efficacy and ocular discomfort of substituting
brinzolamide for dorzolamide in patients with glaucoma treated by latanoprost, timolol,
and dorzolamide.
Methods: An 8-week, prospective, randomized, open-label, comparative study was performed
in 58 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma treated by latanoprost, timolol, and
dorzolamide. These patients were randomly enrolled into two groups: (1) dorzolamide three
times daily was substituted with brinzolamide twice-daily (substituting group); and (2) dorzolamide
three times daily was continued (control group). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured
at baseline, 4, and 8 weeks after the enrollment. Subjective ocular discomfort (irritation
and blurred vision) at the time of the instillation of the patient was noted with interview.
Results: The IOPs at baseline, 4 and 8 weeks after the enrollment were 17.7 ± 2.7 mmHg,
17.5 ± 2.6 mmHg, and 17.4 ± 2.9 mmHg in the substituting group, and 18.0 ± 2.5 mmHg, 17.8 ±
2.5 mmHg, and 17.9 ± 2.6 mmHg in the control group, respectively. There were no significant
differences in IOP changes between the two groups (P = 0.74). In the substituting group, ocular
irritation was decreased significantly (P = 0.0014) from 63% to 20%. The slight increase
of blurred vision from 27% to 37% that occurred in the substituting group was not significant
(P = 0.58). In the control group, neither ocular irritation (P = 0.58, from 68% to 57%) nor
blurred vision (P = 0.99, from 25% to 21%) was changed.
Conclusions: Substituting brinzolamide for dorzolamide maintained stable IOP with improvement
in ocular comfort in patients with glaucoma.
