Twenty-four-hour intraocular pressure control with bimatoprost and the bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination administered in the morning, or evening in exfoliative glaucoma

AIM: To compare 24 h intraocular pressure (IOP) control of morning and evening administered bimatoprost/timolol fixed combination (BTFC) and evening administered bimatoprost in exfoliative glaucoma (XFG). METHODS: One eye of 60 XFG patients was included in this prospective, observer-masked, crossover comparison. Following wash-out, all patients received bimatoprost monotherapy for 6 weeks. They were then randomised to morning, or evening, administered BTFC for 3 months and then switched to the opposite therapy. RESULTS: At baseline, mean 24 h pressure was 29.0 mm Hg. Bimatoprost reduced the mean IOP by 8.1 mm Hg (27.8%, p<0.001). The evening administration of BTFC reduced 24 h IOP to a statistically lower level than morning administration (10.2 mm Hg (35.3%) vs 9.8 mm Hg (33.8%); p=0.005). Both dosing regimens reduced IOP significantly more than bimatoprost (p < or = 0.006, for all time points). A 24 h IOP reduction > or = 30% was seen in 43 patients (72%) with evening BTFC compared with 39 patients (65%) with morning BTFC (p=0.344) and only 24 patients (40%) with bimatoprost monotherapy (p<0.001 vs both BTFC regimens). CONCLUSION: Both BTFC dosing regimens significantly reduce 24 h IOP in XFG compared with bimatoprost monotherapy. The evening dosing gives rise to statistically better 24 h IOP control and could be considered in these patients.