[Xalathane: comparative assessment of efficacy and safety in hypotensive therapy of glaucoma]

Hypotensive efficacy and safety of local monotherapy with 0.005% xalathane (once a day) and combined therapy with 0.5% timolol (twice a day) and 2% pilocarpine (3 times a day) are compared in 24 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Mean decrease of intraocular pressure was significant in both groups. No side effects of xalathane were recorded. In one case there was a slight reddening of the eye and a sensation of discomfort Pilocarpine therapy was associated with miosis in all patients; half of them complained of obscure vision and headache after instillation. Monotherapy with xalathane is safe sufficiently effective, and comparable to combined therapy with timolol and pilocarpine.