Purpose: This study is to compare the clinical effects and safety of 0.5% timolol maleate and 2% dorzolamide hydrochloride combinationis (Cosopt®) with those of 0.5% timolol maleate (Timoptic®) in normal Korean.
Methods: We instilled Timoptic® eye drops two time a day into one eye and Cosopt® eyedrops two times a day into the other eye for thirty days and measured the intraocular pressure (IOP) and side effects in normal Korean volunteers.
Results: Cosopt® was superior to Timoptic® in reducing IOP, but had more frequent side effects such as burning, blurred vision, tearing, ocular pain, injection than those of Timoptic®. However side effects of Cosopt® were tolerable enough to refrain from discontinuation.
Conclusions: Due to the greater IOP lowering efficacy of Cosopt® compared to that of Timoptic®, it can be used as an effective substitute in case of uncontrolled IOP with beta blockers alone.