Evaluation of the effects on choroidal thickness of bimatoprost 0.03% versus a brinzolamide 1.0%/ timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination

Objective: To investigate the effects of two different medical treatment options on choroidal thickness (CT) in cases of open-angle glaucoma (OAG). Methods: Sixty-seven eyes newly diagnosed with OAG and 52 healthy eyes constituting the control group were included in the study. Glaucomatous eyes were randomly divided into two subgroups; Group I was started on bimatoprost 0.03% and Group II on a brinzolamide 1.0%/ timolol maleate 0.5% fixed combination (BTFC). Intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular pulse amplitude (OPA) and subfoveal CT measurements were performed in all eyes in the study before treatment and on weeks 2, 4 and 8 after treatment. Results: Mean initial IOP values in groups I and II and the control group were 25.5 +/- 4.7, 25.1 +/- 5.2 and 16.1 +/- 2.9 mmHg, mean OPA values were 3.7 +/- 1, 3.6 +/- 1.4 and 2.4 +/- 0.6mmHg and mean CT values were 269.4 +/- 83, 264.5 +/- 84.4 and 320.1 +/- 56.6 mm, respectively. Eight weeks after treatment, mean IOP values in Groups I and II and the control group were 18.3 +/- 2.6, 18.1 +/- 3.4 and 15.7 +/- 2.9 mmHg, mean OPA values were 2.9 +/- 1.2, 2.8 +/- 1.5 and 2.3 +/- 0.8mmHg and mean CT values were 290.2 +/- 87.3, 271.8 +/- 82.5 and 319.3 +/- 56.8 mm, respectively. No significant difference was determined in terms of the decrease in IOP and OPA obtained after treatment in Group I and Group II. However, a significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of choroidal thickening after treatment. Conclusion: The use of topical ocular hypotensive medication in eyes with OAG results in an increase in CT. This increase is relatively greater with bimatoprost 0.03% therapy compared to BTFC.