Timolol-pilocarpine combined vs timolol and pilocarpine given separately

In a controlled, double-observer, multicenter study, we compared the effect of a fixed combination of timolol 0.5%-pilocarpine 4% twice a day with that of timolol 0.5% twice a day plus pilocarpine 4% three times a day in 80 patients with open-angle glaucoma whose intraocular pressure was greater than 21 mm Hg on timolol 0.5% twice a day alone. Administered twice daily, the combination drug lowered intraocular pressure as effectively as concomitant treatment with timolol twice a day and pilocarpine three times a day. No statistically significant differences in reduction of intraocular pressure were found between the two groups nor were any unexpected side effects observed.