A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE SAFETY AND EFFICACY OF TOPICAL BIMATOPROST WITH TIMOLOL MALEATE IN GLAUCOMA PATIENTS

BACKGROUND Glaucoma is a group of disorders characterized by increase in Intraocular Pressure OOP), which can damage the optic nerve and if untreated can lead to gradual peripheral vision loss and irreversible blindness. Glaucoma classified into primary and secondary glaucoma. Primary glaucoma has two types Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) and Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma (PACG). Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Worldwide, it is estimated that about 66.8 million people have visual impairment from glaucoma with 6.8 million suffering from blindness. AIMS AND OBJECTIVE To assess the level of IOP reduction of bimatoprost with timolol maleate and its statistical analysis. To compare the IOP lowering efficacy of bimatoprost with timolol maleate. To study the adverse drug reaction profiles of both the drugs. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study was designed to compare the efficacy and safety of topical anti-glaucoma drugs, Bimatoprost (0.03%) and Timolol maleate (0.5%) in patients with POAG attending at Regional Eye Hospital, Warangal. RESULTS In this study mean reduction of IOP at 2 wks., 6 wks., 12 wks., 24 wks. were 6.60 mmHg (23.21%), 9.6 mmHg (33.76%), 10.00 mmHg (38.68%), 11.20 mmHg (39.39%) for Bimatoprost and 4.20 mmHg (15.07%), 6.24% mmHg (23.39%), 7.36 mmHg (25.91%) and 7.64 mmHg (26.56%) for Timolol group respectively. STATISTICAL METHOD Student's 't' test was used for analysis of results. CONCLUSION Bimatoprost 0.03% ophthalmic solution was highly efficacious, well tolerated, systemically safe and minimal ocular side effects and less drug withdraw. It can be used as first line therapy to treat cases of POAG to reduce IOP. The only limitation for its use is regarding its cost. The topical bimatoprost preparations are expensive when compared to the topical Timolol maleate. But considering the reduction in IOP, the modifiable factor for preventing the progression of optic nerve head damage and preservation of visual function hence increase the quality of vision and life.