Development and Optimization of Dorzolamide Hydrochloride and Timolol Maleate in Situ Gel for Glaucoma Treatment

In glaucoma disease when monotherapy treatment does not adequately lower the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye, one or more agents are added or substituted because 40 % of treated subjects required more than one medication to achieve the therapeutic goal of 20% IOP reduction from baseline and One of the two patients of glaucoma commenced on initial monotherapy will require additional ocular hypertensive agents within two years to control IOP. The present study describe the in-situ gel of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate as an anti-glaucoma agent using various concentrations of Pluronic F-127 (15 and 20 % w/v) as a temperature induced gelling system in combination with varying concentrations of hydroxyl propyl methyl cellulose (0.5, 1.0, 1.5% w/v) (Methocel K15M) as a viscosity enhancing agent with an objective of increasing contact time, achieving controlled release, reduction in frequency of administration and greater therapeutic efficacy of drug. The prepared in situ gels were evaluated for their visual appearance, clarity, pH, viscosity, gelling strength, drug content, in vitro release studies. The formulation F₃ shows satisfactory results and show the drugs release over an eight hour period. The developed system of combination of dorzolamide hydrochloride and timolol maleate is thus a viable alternative to conventional eye drops.