Navin Chandra1, Suresh Kumar Sinha2
BACKGROUND
Glaucoma is an optic neuropathy in which there is characteristic structural damage to the optic nerve head associated with widespread progressive ganglion cell death, nerve fibre loss and typical visual field defects.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The patients were selected from the Outpatient Department of Ophthalmology, Nalanda Medical College, Patna. A total of 100 cases of primary open-angle glaucoma were selected from those attending the outpatient department. They were divided into various groups and comparative study was done. Group 1- IOP between 20-30 mmHg. Group2- IOP above 30 mmHg. Group 1 had total 60 patients whereas group 2 had total 40 patients. Each group were further divided into subgroups A and B. Subgroup A included those on timolol maleate (0.5%), whereas subgroup B those on dorzolamide hydrochloride (2%). Patients who had intraocular surgery and those on systemic beta blockers were excluded from this study. Patients were instructed not to administer their eye drops on the morning of the checkup visits in order to measure drug efficacy 12 hours after previous evening dose.
RESULTS
Group 1- There was a mean reduction of 6.2 ± 1.85 (22.94%) and 5.55 ± 1.68 (21.38%) mm of Hg in right and left eye respectively with timolol, whereas dorzolamide group showed a reduction of 3.91 ± 1.69 (14.04%) respectively in right and left eye. Group 2- There was a mean reduction of 4.72 ± 2.97 (15.73%) and 5.3s7 ± 1.24 (16.26%) in right and left eye respectively with timolol, whereas dorzolamide group showed a reduction of 4.30 ± 1.41 (12.90%) and 4.12 ± 2.08 mmHg (12.56%) in right and left eye, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Timolol maleate (0.5%) has an edge over dorzolamide hydrochloride (2%) as far as IOP lowering effect is concerned.
