Investigation into the vasospastic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of glaucomatous neuropathy.

Unlabelled: Spasm of blood vessels supplying the optic nerve head is considered one of possible ischaemic mechanisms of glaucomatous optic neuropathy.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of two potent and long-acting vasoconstrictors: endothelin-1 (ET-1) and neuropetide Y (NPY) in the pathogenesis of glaucoma by: 1) measurement of plasma ET-1 and NPY concentrations in primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients with high intraocular pressure (HTG patients) and with normal intraocular pressure (NTG patients) at baseline and following peripheral exposure to cold (cold-pressor test), 2) assessment whether changes, if any, in the plasma concentrations of both peptides following the cold-pressor test correlate with visual field defects.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted in three groups of subjects: 1) HTG patients, 2) NTG patients and 3) controls.

Efficacy and safety of latanoprost versus pilocarpine/timolol maleate fixed combination in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the safety and effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) of latanoprost given every evening versus pilocarpine/timolol maleate fixed combination (PTFC) given twice daily in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) or ocular hypertension (OH).

Methods: Following a 6-week, medicine-free period, qualified patients were randomized for Period 1 to either placebo administered every morning and latanoprost every evening or to PTFC administered twice daily. After 8 weeks of treatment, IOP was measured at 08.

[Timolol 0.5%/dorzolamide 2% fixed combination versus timolol 0.5%/pilocarpine 2% fixed combination in primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients].

Purpose: To establish the efficacy and safety of timolol 0.5%/dorzolamide 2% fixed combination versus timolol 0.5%/pilocarpine 2% fixed combination, each given twice daily, in primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertensive patients.

[The mystery of glaucoma].

The concept of glaucoma approach as to disease secondary to certain morphological changes--of origin not yet completely clarified. This paper was presented in the Symposium Opening Ceremony lecture. It seems, that in the future, we should expect some gene therapy alternatives to the treatment algorithms applied in therapy of glaucoma, nowadays.

Timolol 0.5%/dorzolamide 2% fixed combination versus timolol 0.5%/pilocarpine 2% fixed combination in primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients.

Purpose: To establish the efficacy and safety of timolol maleate/dorzolamide fixed combination (TDFC) versus timolol maleate/pilocarpine fixed combination (TPFC), each given twice daily, in primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertensive patients.

Methods: In this prospective, multicentred, double-masked trial, 37 patients were treated twice daily with timolol for 4 weeks. They were then randomized to one of the treatment medications for 6 weeks, after which they were treated with timolol again for 2 weeks before being placed on the opposite treatment medication for 6 weeks.