Treatment of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension with Preservative-Free Tafluprost-Timolol Fixed-Dose Combination versus Preservative-Free Latanoprost-Timolol Fixed-Dose Combination Therapy: Real-World Experience

Author(s): Ulrich Thelen

Background: To evaluate the effect of an "escalation" of topical glaucoma therapy by switching form prostaglandin mono therapy to two different prostaglandin-timolol fixed combinations.

Methods: 30 patients (60 eyes) with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OHT) were initially treated with the prostaglandin analog latanoprost in a preservative-free formulation. 15 patients each were for 6 months - because of IOP levels considered still too high - treated with preservative-free tafluprost/timolol fixed-dose combination or preservative-free latanoprost/timolol fixed-dose combination therapy.

Results: Six months after switching from latanopost mono therapy to preservative-free prostaglandin-timolol combinations, patients being treated with the latanoprost-timolol fixed combination had a mean IOP reduction by 4.16 mm Hg and those treated with the tafluprost-timolol fixed combination a mean IOP reduction by 5.38 mm Hg. Regarding safety and tolerability, there were no issues in the tafluprost-timolol group.

Conclusion: Switching from prostaglandin mono therapy to a prostaglandin-timolol fixed combination led to a sufficient IOP lowering in our group of patients. Tolerability of, and satisfaction with, the fixed combination therapies was high.