Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
1-1-2010
Journal
Clinical Ophthalmology
Abstract
Glaucoma is a collection of diseases characterized by multifactorial progressive changes leading to visual field loss and optic neuropathy most frequently due to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). The goal of treatment is the lowering of the IOP to prevent additional optic nerve damage. Treatment usually begins with topical pharmacological agents as monotherapy, progresses to combination therapy with agents from up to 4 different classes of IOP-lowering medications, and then proceeds to laser or incisional surgical modalities for refractory cases. The fixed combination therapy with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor dorzolamide hydrochloride 2% and the beta blocker timolol maleate 0.5% is now available in a generic formulation for the treatment of patients who have not responded sufficiently to monotherapy with beta adrenergic blockers. In pre- and postmarketing clinical studies, the fixed combination dorzolamide-timolol has been shown to be safe and efficacious, and well tolerated by patients. The fixed combination dorzolamide-timolol is convenient for patients, reduces their dosing regimen with the goal of increasing their compliance, reduces the effects of "washout" when instilling multiple drops, and reduces the preservative burden by reducing the number of drops administered per day.
Keywords
dorzolamide, timolol, glaucoma, ocular hypertension, elevated IOP, fixed combination therapy
DOI
10.2147/OPTH.S14054
PMID
21139674
PMCID
PMC2993108
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
November 2010
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Post-print
Published Open-Access
yes