Evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of 1% brinzolamide and 0.5% timolol fixed combination in the treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma

PURPOSE. To evaluate the effect of swtiching patients requiring a fixed combination of hypotensive eye drops from brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% Azarga (Alcon Laboratories Inc, USA) to brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% Brinarga (Sentiss Pharma, India), as well as to study the potential impact on tolerability and compliance, and compare the therapeutic effect of these two combinations.METHODS. Patients were switched from brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination eye drops Azarga to brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% fixed combination eye drops Brinarga. In addition to the conventional instrumental examination methods, a questionnaire was used to identify potential side effects.RESULTS. Thirty-six patients (14 men and 22 women aged 41–89 years) were interviewed and examined in control appointments. A comparison of the severity and persistence of side effects of two types of fixed combination eye drops showed that brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (Brinarga) and brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (Azarga) can be considered as safe and effective conservative methods of glaucoma treatment.CONCLUSION. The fixed combination of brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (Brinarga) is comparable to brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (Azarga) in terms of the IOP reduction effectiveness. No pronounced adverse reactions were detected, which was comparable to the status before the change of therapy. Thus, the combination of brinzolamide 1%/timolol 0.5% (Brinarga) can be considered as an effective and safe treatment option for glaucoma patients.