A one-year multicenter clinical trial of pilocarpine gel

In a one-year clinical trial of pilocarpine gel, a form designed for once-a-day administration, in 83 patients with glaucoma, average intraocular pressures during gel therapy were equal to or slightly lower than previous values during pilocarpine eyedrop therapy (morning values, 18.7 mm Hg vs 19.7 mm Hg; afternoon values, 20.9 mm Hg vs 20.2 mm Hg). Monitoring of diurnal intraocular pressure showed that 33 of 77 patients (43%) using the gel and 25 of 77 (33%) using eyedrops had afternoon values more than 2 mm Hg higher than their morning values. This difference was not statistically significant. Fifteen of 76 patients (20%) who used the gel for more than eight weeks developed a diffuse superficial corneal haze with gel treatment. The haze persisted 12 months after the gel was discontinued. Although the haze produced no symptoms, its long-term consequences are unknown.