Bilateral effects of long-term monocular timolol therapy

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Glaucoma Research
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary modifiable risk factor for glaucoma progression.
• Unilateral treatment strategies require evaluation for potential contralateral effects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the long-term bilateral intraocular pressure lowering effect of unilateral timolol maleate 0.5% in patients with early primary open-angle glaucoma.
• To quantify the IOP reduction in both treated and untreated fellow eyes.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 30 patients diagnosed with early primary open-angle glaucoma was enrolled.
• Patients received long-term unilateral treatment with timolol maleate 0.5% eye drops.
• Intraocular pressure was measured at baseline and during follow-up in both treated and untreated eyes.

Main Results:

• Significant IOP reduction was observed in the treated eyes (from 28.5 to 21.0 mm Hg, P < .001).
• A significant IOP reduction was also found in the untreated fellow eyes (from 26.4 to 21.9 mm Hg, P < .001).
• Approximately 47% of patients achieved significant bilateral IOP reduction, with comparable reduction between treated (8.2 mm Hg) and untreated eyes (7.7 mm Hg).

Conclusions:

• Unilateral long-term application of timolol maleate 0.5% demonstrates a significant bilateral intraocular pressure lowering effect.
• The contralateral hypotensive effect suggests a systemic or shared physiological mechanism influencing IOP.
• These findings have implications for glaucoma management strategies, potentially offering benefits beyond the directly treated eye.