EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF 2 COMBINATION OF E YE DROPS CONTAINING 2 PERCENT CARTEOLOL AND 2 PERCENT PILOCARPINE IN PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA AND SIMPLE OCULAR HYPERTENSION

Purpose The aim of the study was to compare 2 combinations of eye drop s containing 2 % carteolol and 2 % pilocarpine: LCM 1010: ready to use eye drops CBS 341A: eye drops to be reconstituted (freeze-dried powde r + solvent). Methods Ninety-seven patients with primary open angle gl aucoma or simple ocular hypertension were included in a randomized, do uble-blind multicentric study comparing 2 parallel groups of treatment . Intra-ocular pressure was grater than 21 mmHg with beta-blocker alon e. One instillation of 2 % carteolol-2 % pilocarpine combination was g iven twice a day for one month. Before and after this treatment, intra -ocular pressure was measured at 9 am (12 hours after evening instilla tion) and at 11 am (2 hours after morning instillation). Results Both treatments reduced intra-ocular pressure by a comparable amount and th ere was no significant difference between groups at either measure: at 9 am: 2.11 +/- 2.39 mmHg (mean +/- SD) for LCM 1010 1.79 +/- 1.73 mmH g for CBS 341 A p = 0.25 at 11 am: 3.75 +/- 2.83 mmHg for LCM 1010 3.4 0 +/- 1.69 mmHg for CBS 341 A p = 0.42. Both eye drops were generally well tolerated. Conclusion Efficacy and safety of ready to use eye dro ps 2% carteolol-2 % pilocarpine combination proved to be comparable to that of eye drops to be reconstituted in the treatment of ocular hype rtension poorly controlled by beta-blocker eye drops alone.