Influence of ocular hypotensive eyedrops on intraocular pressure fluctuation with postural change in eyes with normal-tension glaucoma.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of various ocular hypotensive eyedrops on the intraocular pressure (IOP) fluctuations caused by the postural change in patients with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). Randomized crossover single-blind study. Twenty-four eyes of 24 newly diagnosed NTG patients were enrolled. One of the three eyedrops including timolol maleate, latanoprost, and brinzolamide was randomly administered for one month. Each patient received all three eyedrops with a one-month washout period between the drugs. The IOP at baseline and after each treatment trial was measured in both sitting and supine positions. Compared with the baseline level, the magnitude of IOP elevation associated with the postural change did not alter significantly by the application of any eyedrops (one-way repeated-measures analysis of variance, P = .288). The mechanism of action underlying the IOP change with the postural change is different from the pharmacologic action of these hypotensive agents.