Comparison of quality of life and patient preference of dorzolamide and pilocarpine as adjunctive therapy to timolol in the treatment of glaucoma.

PURPOSE: This article compares 2% dorzolamide (given twice daily) and 2% pilocarpine (given four times a day) for quality of life and preference in patients concurrently receiving 0.5% timolol (given twice daily) for elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: This was a 4 week, randomized, two-period crossover study, involving 92 patients with elevated intraocular pressures suitable for adjunctive therapy. The Comparison of Ophthalmic Medications for Quality of Life questionaire was used to assess patient preference and self-reported quality of life. IOP measurements were obtained 2 h after drop instillation at the end of each crossover period. RESULTS: Overall, patients reported less interference in self-reported quality of life while receiving dorzolamide than while receiving pilocarpine, particularly with regard to limitations in their ability to drive, read, and perform moderate activities; and the bothersomeness of ocular side effects (p 7:1. Dorzolamide demonstrated less interference in self-reported quality of life than pilocarpine when compared as adjuctive therapy to timolol in the treatment of open-angle glaucoma.