Comparison of two treatment schedules for combined timolol and dipivefrin therapy

In a prospective, randomized, single-masked, cross-over study, 18 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma were treated for one month with each of the following regimens: timolol 0.5% twice daily, timolol 0.5% plus dipivefrin 0.1% twice daily given ten minutes apart, and timolol 0.5% plus dipivefrin 0.1% given twice daily four hours apart. An eight-hour intraocular pressure curve was obtained before treatment and at the end of each monthly regimen. When added to timolol therapy, dipivefrin produced a small but statistically significant additional mean decrease in intraocular pressure. The difference in intraocular pressure reduction between the two regimens for combined timolol and dipivefrin therapy was not statistically significant.