A comparison of 0.1% timolol eye gel and 0.5% timolol eye drop in patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma.

BACKGROUND: Primary angle-closure glaucoma has been reported with higher prevalence in Asian populations. There is no significant data of different response of topical medication between angle- closure and open angle eyes. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigates ocular hypotensive effect and systemic side effects of 0.1% timolol eye gel once daily compared with 0.5% timolol eye drop twice daily in patients with chronic angle-closure glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The present study was a prospective, randomized, investigator-masked, two-period crossover study in chronic angle-closure glaucoma patients with each drug tested for a six-week period. RESULTS: Twenty five eyes were included. Timolol 0.1% eye gel and 0.5% timolol eye drop significantly reduced IOP at 9 am, 11 am and 3 pm compared with baseline (P < 0.001). At week 6, the mean IOP reduction from baseline of 0.5% timolol eye drop group was higher than that of 0.1% timolol eye gel group at 9 am (3.68 mmHg, 2.51 mmHg respectively) and at 11 am (4.21 mmHg, 2.51 mmHg respectively). These differences were not statistically significant (p = 0.421, p = 0.157 respectively). At 3 pm of week 6, the mean IOP change from baseline of 0.1% timolol eye gel group (3.03 mmHg) was more than that of 0.5% timolol eye drop group (2.84 mmHg). There was also statistically insignificant difference (p = 0.873). The highest IOP reduction of 0.5% timolol eye drop was 4.21 mmHg (19.82%) at 11 am of week 6 and that of 0.1% timolol eye gel was 3.03 mmHg (14.38%) at 3 pm of the same week. There was no significant ocular side effect. Systolic blood pressure after treatment with 0.1% timolol eye gel and diastolic blood pressure after treatment with 0.5% timolol eye drop were significantly decreased from baseline (P = 0.006 and P = 0.026 respectively). But there was no clinical significance. CONCLUSION: Timolol 0.5% eye drop and 0.1% timolol eye gel effectively reduced IOP in chronic angle-closure glaucoma patients. There was no statistically significant difference in the ocular hypotensive effect of both drugs over a 24-hour period. There was no ocular side effect. Systemic side effect was clinically insignificant difference in both groups.

Visual outcome and prognostic factors in posterior segment intraocular foreign bodies.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prognostic factors that predict visual outcome in eyes with penetrating ocular injuries with retained intraocular foreign bodies (IOFBs). DESIGN: Retrospective cases series MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors reviewed the records of 228 patients who had penetrating eye injuries with retained posterior segment IOFBs managed at Siriraj Hospital between June 1995 and February 2008. One hundred and forty-one patients (61.8%) were included in the present study. Associations between final visual outcome and various pre-operative and post operative variables were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 10.4 +/- 7.7 months, 68 eyes (48.2%) achieved visual acuity of 6/18 or better The final visual acuity ranged between 6/24 and 6/60 in 22 eyes (15.6%) and 51 eyes (36.2%) had visual acuity less than 6/60. Final visual acuity significantly depended on initial visual acuity (p = 0.002), size of entry wound (p = 0.020), size of foreign body (p = 0.018), presence of vitreous hemorrhage (p = 0.014), retinal detachment (p = 0.026) and endophthalmitis (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Visual outcome in penetrating ocular injuries with retained IOFBs was affected by initial visual acuity, size of entry wound, size of foreign body, vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment and endophthalmitis. These factors may be helpful for pre-operative counseling and predicting the final visual outcome.