[Results of long-term treatment of glaucoma with timolol ophthalmic solution (author's transl)]

A previous double-blind study carried out for 17 weeks on 50 patients with open-angle glaucoma reported on the results of treatment with Timolol and Pilocarpine eye drops. On completion of a long-term study with Timolol over a two-year period, the remaining findings can now be given. Of the 25 patients treated twice a day with 0.1% to 0.5% Timolol eye drops, intraocular pressure was not adequately controlled in six patients with the use of Timolol alone, and treatment had to be discontinued after three to five weeks. In the remaining 19 patients, intraocular pressure was controlled well over the entire two-year period, but in some cases it was necessary after a while to increase the dosage to a higher concentration. The following checks were carried out regularly in accordance with a fixed schedule: intraocular pressure, tonographic examination, visual acuity, pupil size, visual field, pulse and blood pressure, tear production (Schirmer test), slit-lamp biomicroscopy and fundaloscopy. Evaluation of the results shows that in the long term Timolol reduced intraocular pressure by 31%. There were no changes in visual acuity, visual field, excavation and degeneration of the optic disc, or slit lamp examination findings. During treatment with Timolol the mean pulse rate decreased by 12%, and there was a drop in blood pressure of 3.8% systolic and 2.8% diastolic. Moreover, tear production decreased by 10.2%. During the entire observation period there were no local or systemic side-effects, nor any adverse reaction. The six patients whose intraocular pressure was not reduced satisfactorily by Timolol alone were treated successfully with a combination of Timolol and miotics. A dosage without additional Timolol would not have sufficed for any of the patients.