Correction to: Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study Comparing Tafluprost/Timolol Fixed Combination with Latanoprost/Timolol Fixed Combination in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

In the original publication, the range to derive the P values is incorrectly represented in Table 2 and Table 3. The corrected tables are provided below.

Effect of quantitative intraocular pressure reduction on visual field defect progression in normal tension glaucoma under medical therapy applying Markov model.

PURPOSE: To quantitatively evaluate the association of intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction with visual field defect (VFD) progression in normal tension glaucoma (NTG) under medical therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data for 622 eyes of 311 primary open-angle glaucoma and NTG patients were collected from April 2006 to March 2016. Of these patients, those with normal IOP, glaucomatous VFD by Anderson's criteria, corrected visual acuity ≥0.7, >5 years of medical therapy, ≥5 visual field tests at least five times at 12-month intervals, visual field testing reliability coefficients of ≤33%, and mean deviation (MD) exceeding below -20 dB in the initial visual field test were included in this retrospective data analysis. MD and IOP data were collected at baseline and after 5 years. Following MD categorization into stages I to IV, stage transition matrices were generated using a Markov model to evaluate VFD changes. Eyes were divided based on IOP reduction (0%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%) from baseline. VFD aggravations were compared using the Markov model and MD slopes with IOP reduction rates as cutoff values. RESULTS: Overall, 132 eyes of 132 NTG patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria. MD decreased significantly (P<0.0001) at 5 years vs baseline. During follow-up, visual field stage using the Markov model was constant in ~60%, with transitions in ~40%. IOP decreased significantly (P>0.001) at 5 years vs baseline. Though MD slopes did not differ significantly between each of the groups that achieved the various IOP reduction cut-off values and the corresponding group that did not achieve the cut-off values, a significant difference (P=0.0432) in VFD was found between the group that achieved the 25% cut-off value and the group that did not when evaluated using the Markov model. CONCLUSION: In NTG patients, VFD aggravation was significantly suppressed in groups with IOP reductions of ≥25% from baseline.

Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study Comparing Tafluprost/Timolol Fixed Combination with Latanoprost/Timolol Fixed Combination in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma and Ocular Hypertension.

INTRODUCTION: This was the first exploratory randomized controlled study to compare the efficacy and safety of a preserved tafluprost/timolol fixed combination (TAF/TIM) with a preserved latanoprost/timolol fixed combination (LAT/TIM). METHODS: This prospective, randomized, open-label study was conducted in Japanese patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, including normal-tension glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Following a 4-week LAT/TIM run-in period, eligible patients entered a 12-week treatment period, during which they received either LAT/TIM or TAF/TIM. The efficacy endpoint was the change in intraocular pressure (IOP) from baseline to week 12 and the safety endpoints included the changes from baseline to week 12 in superficial punctate keratopathy (SPK) score, tear breakup time (TBUT), and hyperemia score, as well as adverse events (AEs). At week 6, ocular symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire. RESULTS: In total, 131 patients provided informed consent. Of these, 115 completed the run-in period and were assigned to receive TAF/TIM (n = 60) or LAT/TIM (n = 55). At week 12, there were no significant differences between the TAF/TIM and LAT/TIM groups in the change from baseline in trough IOP and IOP at 4-6 h after instillation. There were no significant differences between the two groups in the change from baseline to week 12 in SPK score, TBUT, and hyperemia score. However, only in the TAF/TIM group, the total SPK score and the inferior cornea SPK score were significantly lower at week 12 compared with baseline. Eye irritation and eye pain were significantly decreased in the TAF/TIM group compared with the LAT/TIM group. Two treatment-related AEs were reported in the TAF/TIM group (3.3%) and none in the LAT/TIM group, while no serious AEs were reported in either group. CONCLUSION: TAF/TIM is as effective as LAT/TIM in terms of IOP-reducing effect, with fewer ocular symptoms. TAF/TIM was associated with a significant improvement in SPK scores. TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN Clinical Trials Registry Identifier, UMIN000023862. FUNDING: Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan.

The 24-hour intraocular pressure control by tafluprost/timolol fixed combination after switching from the concomitant use of tafluprost and timolol gel-forming solution, in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 24-hour intraocular pressure (IOP)-control effect of the tafluprost/timolol fixed combination (TAF/TIM-FC) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma after they switched from the concomitant use of tafluprost and timolol gel-forming solution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (12 male and 8 female; mean ± SD age, 57.0±7.1 years) were included in this study. The patients were treated for 8 weeks with the concomitant administration of tafluprost and timolol gel-forming solution (evening dosing). At the end of this period, the patients underwent 24-hour IOP monitoring (measured at 21:00, 01:00, 05:00, 09:00, 13:00 and 17:00). IOP was measured with Goldmann applanation tonometer (GAT) and Icare PRO at sitting position at all timepoints and additionally, at supine position with Icare PRO tonometer at 01:00 and 05:00. The patients were then all switched to TAF/TIM-FC treatment (evening dosing). After 8 weeks, the 24-hour IOP monitoring was repeated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients completed the study. The mean 24-hour IOPs in the concomitant and TAF/TIM-FC phases were 13.8±2.7 vs 13.3±2.8 mmHg (P=0.0033) with the GAT in the sitting position and 13.96±2.56 vs 13.48±2.56 mmHg (P=0.0120) with the Icare PRO in habitual positions. In comparison with the concomitant phase, significantly lower IOP was observed for the TAF/TIM-FC phase at 21:00 and 01:00 with the GAT and at 01:00 with the Icare PRO. In addition, the maximum IOP and fluctuations in IOP in habitual positions were lower for the TAF/TIM-FC phase than for the concomitant phase. CONCLUSION: TAF/TIM-FC showed a stable 24-hour IOP-lowering effect and was equally or more effective than the concomitant use of tafluprost and timolol gel, both when sitting and when in habitual positions.

Long-term progression of visual field defects and related factors in medically treated normal tension glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To analyze factors related to long-term progression of visual field defects (VFD) in patients with normal tension glaucoma (NTG) under medical therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinical data from 622 eyes of 311 primary open-angle glaucoma and NTG patients were collected from April 2006 to March 2016. Of these patients, those with normal intraocular pressure (IOP); glaucomatous VFD judged by Anderson's criteria; corrected visual acuity ≥0.7; receiving more than 6 years medical therapy; having undergone ≥10 visual field tests performed at 6-month intervals using a Humphrey field analyzer (Swedish Interactive Threshold Algorithms standard, C 24-2 program); and having reliability coefficients of visual field testing <33% and mean deviation (MD) more than -20 decibels in the initial visual field test were included in data analysis. The relationship between MD slope deterioration at final observation and consecutive decreases in MD value during the observation period, as well as clinical characteristics and IOP-related factors, were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 134 eyes in 134 NTG patients meeting all eligibility criteria, significant MD slope deterioration was observed in 80 eyes (59.7%). MD slope deterioration was significantly associated with consecutive decreases in MD values (Cochran-Armitage trend test: P=0.0000; univariate logistic regression analysis: P<0.0001). While no significant relationship was observed between central corneal thickness, refractive error, or prevalence of disc hemorrhage, consecutive decreases in MD value was significantly related to MD slope deterioration (univariate logistic regression analysis: P<0.0001). A reduction of IOP during the follow-up period was significantly related to nondeterioration of the MD slope (multivariate logistic regression analysis: P=0.0020). CONCLUSION: In this 6-year observation of NTG patients treated with medical therapy, the occurrence of three or more consecutive decreases in MD value was significantly associated with visual field deterioration. Reduction in IOP was postulated to be contributing in the prevention of VFD progression.