THE EFFECTIVITY OF LEVOBUNOLOL VERSUS TRAVOPROST IN REDUCING INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY CONDUCTED IN TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF PESHAWAR

ABSTRACT Objective: To compare levobunolol and travoprost for lowering the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) in patients of ocular hypertension and primary open-angle glaucoma. Materials and Methods: A Quasi experimental study was conducted in the ophthalmology department of Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. 120 patients of both genders and age between 18-80 years with ocular hypertension or primary open angle glaucoma requiring single pressure lowering drug were enrolled in the study. Subjects were divided into two groups (60 in each). One group was treated with travoprost eye drops (0.004%, OD) while other group with levobunolol eye drops (0.5%, OD). After initial screening visit where demographic data and baseline IOP was recorded on structured proforma, three follow-up visits were arranged each at 02 weeks interval. At each follow-up visit, IOP was recorded by standard protocols to evaluate and compare the ocular hypotensive efficacy of study drugs by calculating mean IOP change from the baseline. Only patients with no missing IOP measurements for all visits were considered eligible for the efficacy evaluation. Results: A total of 120 patients were observed having age range from 18 years and above with mean age 52.16 ± 9.56 and predominance of male gender. Upon comparative analysis, no significant statistical difference (p value >0.05) was observed in the ocular hypotensive efficacy of levobunolol and travoprost measured at each follow-up visit, indicating both the drugs equally effective. Moreover, age groups did not reveal any significant statistical impact on the treatment outcome of patients treated with either study drug. Conclusion: Though both the drugs are equally effective, levobunolol is better option than travoprost for the treatment of glaucoma because of its fast onset of action, cost effectiveness and easy availability.