THE SHORT-TERM ADDITIVE EFFECT OF PILOCARPINE AND TIMOLOL

The effect of pilocarpine, 4%, or timolol, 0.5%, alone and in combinat ion was tested on the intraocular pressure of 14 previously untreated ocular hypertensive patient within 6 hours. The intraocular pressure l owering effect of timolol alone was the same as that of the combined t reatment with pilocarpine (P > 0.1), indicating the lack of additivity of the two drugs. This may be because timolol caused a maximal reduct ion in IOP. Additivity would most likely be observable ii timolol lost some of its effectiveness with chronic treatment (long-term drift).