A multicentre study of the effect and tolerance of Ocusert-P-40

The suitability of treatment with Ocusert-P-40, a lamellar system inserted in the eye and allowing the constant release of pilocarpine, was studied in a group of patients (age range 43-83 years) with wide-angle glaucoma. Those patients completing a 3-week trial were included in an 8 month follow-up study in which the long-term efficacy and tolerance of Ocusert were studied. Treatment was discontinued in 13 of the 42 patients in the 3-week trial owing to initial irritation and retention problems (n = 11) or unsatisfactory control of the intraocular pressure (I.O.P.) (n = 2). Of the 29 patients entering the long-term study, two were withdrawn because of tolerance problems and two as a result of unsatisfactory control of I.O.P. The 25 patients completing the study considered the Ocusert system more convenient and less liable to produce troublesome side-effects than their previous therapy. Ocusert was best tolerated by the younger patients.