Efficacy and safety of pneumatic trabeculoplasty versus timolol added to latanoprost in primary open angle glaucoma.

Background: To compare the safety and short-term additive hypotensive effect of pneumatic trabeculoplasty (PNT) versus timolol among patients receiving topical latanoprost for primary open angle glaucoma (POAG).

Methods: This study prospectively evaluated 30 eyes of 30 patients with POAG receiving latanoprost monotherapy. We randomly assigned 15 eyes to PNT plus latanoprost (Group A), and 15 eyes to latanoprost/timolol fixed combination therapy (Group B). PNT treatment was performed at days 0, 7, and 90. Follow-up visits occurred at day 1, week 1, and months 1 and 3.

Results: Compared to baseline values, both treatments significantly lowered IOP (p ≤ 0.001).The mean IOP for Group A was 21.13 ± 1.6 mmHg at baseline and 18.7 ± 1.5 mmHg at three months (p ≤ 0.001). For Group B, mean IOP was 20.8 ± 1.9 mmHg at baseline and 18.9 ± 0.8 mmHg at three months (p ≤ 0.001). Transient conjunctival hyperaemia, the only adverse effect occurring after PNT, was observed in all patients in Group A.

Conclusions: The additive IOP-lowering effect of PNT was similar to timolol in patients with POAG receiving latanoprost.