A Comparative Study of Efficacy and Tolerability of Dorzolamide and Timolol Maleate in Pre-Operative Cataract Patients

The drugs currently available for treatment of glaucoma are α-blockers, sympathomimetics, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) and prostaglandin analogues1. Apart from their use in glaucoma to reduce IOP, the antiglaucoma drugs are also used routinely for pre-operative reduction of IOP even in nonglaucomatous patients subjected for intraocular surgery to prevent expulsive haemorrhage and bulging of anterior segment.

Objectives: To assess the safety and tolerability of 2% dorzolamide and 0.5% timolol maleate in Pre-operative Cataract patients.

Materials and Methods: A prospective, comparative study enrolling 60 Pre-operative Cataract patients (30 in each group) attending Ophthalmology inpatient department in Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Science Hospital and Research Centre. Dorzolamide was instilled thrice daily and timolol maleate twice daily for 2 days. IOP was measured on zero, 2^nd, 24^th and 48^th hours and also looked for side effects.

Results: The mean reduction of IOP was 17.1% with dorzolamide and 18.9% with timolol maleate. Both the drugs were tolerated very well without any systemic adverse effect and the local side effects were comparatively less with dorzolamide.

Conclusion: Efficacy of dorzolamide in decreasing IOP in Pre-operative Cataract patients was almost comparable to timolol, and dorzolamide appeared to be relatively better tolerated.