EFFECT OF LATANOPROST/TIMOLOL AND BRINZOLAMIDE/BRIMONIDINE ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN GLAUCOMA: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Smriti Chawla*, Jyoti Kaushal, Sumit Sachdeva

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Glaucoma is a term used to describe group of diseases of the eye characterized by progressive and irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma causes ocular discomfort, fatigue and visual disturbances that interfere with quality of life (QOL). This study was done to observe the effect on quality of life with latanoprost/timolol versus brinzolamide/brimonidine fixed dose combination (FDC) in primary open angle glaucoma patients. Material & Methods: A prospective, randomized, comparative clinical study was conducted on 50 patients and they were randomly divided in two groups of 25 each to receive either Latanoprost and Timolol FDC (0.005+0.5% w/v) ophthalmic solution once daily (Group A) or Brinzolamide and Brimonidine FDC (1% +0.15% w/v) ophthalmic solution thrice daily (Group B) intra-ocularly for 12 weeks. Quality of life assessment was done by Glaucoma quality of life (GQL-15) and Glaucoma symptom scale (GSS) questionnaire. Results: On intragroup analysis, at the end of 12 weeks in group A & B there was reduction in GQL-15 score by 38.07% and 31.24% respectively compared to their baseline values (p< 0.001). On intergroup analysis, better response was seen in group A. On intragroup analysis at the end of 12 weeks in group A & B there was increase in GSS score by 2.5% and 1.6% respectively compared to their baseline values but it was statistically significant only in Group A at the end of 12 weeks (p<0.05). Thus, better response was seen with group A on intergroup analysis. Conclusion: Latanoprost & timolol showed more improvement in quality of life than brinzolamide & brimonidine in both parameters.

Keywords: Quality of life, Latanoprost, Timolol, Brinzolamide, Brimonidine, Glaucoma quality of life, Glaucoma Symptom Scale Questionnaire.