Effectiveness and tolerability of the fixed combination of preservative-free drugs timolol and travoprost in glaucoma patients after cataract surgery

Abstract

PURPOSE. The aim of the study was to evaluate the tolerability and effectiveness of the preservative-free combination eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) when changing therapy in patients with initial and moderate stages of glaucoma after phacoemulsification of age-related cataract. METHODS. The study included 38 patients with disorders of the ocular surface with specific complaints, initial and moderate stages of glaucoma compensated for therapy with β-blockers and prostaglandin F2-α analogues. The patients were using monodrugs of these groups, or their fixed combinations. All patients had previously undergone phacoemulsification of age-related cataract with implantation of a monofocal aspherical intraocular lens. The main group consisted of 18 patients who underwent a change in antiglaucoma therapy to a preservative-free combination eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) with once-per-day instillation regimen. Participants included in the control group (20 patients) remained on the treatment they had been using. All patients completed a questionnaire survey of subjective complaints and their condition, underwent assessment of the level of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual functions, parameters of the state of ocular surface (Schirmer test, epitheliopathy according to the Oxford scale), perimetric data on Humphrey 860 (Humphrey Field Analyzer III 860, Zeiss, USA), as well as morphometric parameters and indicators of retinal blood flow and optic nerve on OCT Cirrus 5000 Angioplex (Zeiss, USA) over three months of observation. RESULTS. After switching the drug all patients of the main group experienced a significant improvement in their subjective condition and gave less complaints about the ocular surface. At the same time, stable IOP compensation and no changes in retinal light sensitivity were achieved according to the results of perimetry, the morphometric data and indicators of retinal and optic nerve blood flow. CONCLUSION. The combined preservative-free eye drops timolol 0,5%/travoprost (Travapress Duo, ROMPHARM Company) is well tolerated by patients and is an effective antiglaucoma drug that allows achieving target IOP level with stabilization of morphological and functional parameters in patients with initial and moderate stages of glaucoma after previous cataract phacoemulsification.