Efficacy and Tolerability of the Fixed Combinations Latanoprost/Timolol versus Dorzolamide/Timolol in Patients with Elevated Intraocular Pressure: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the fixed combination of Latanoprost/Timolol versus Dorzolamide/Timolol in the treatment of patients with elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: A comprehensive literature meta-analysis was performed according to the Cochrane Collaboration methodology to identify randomized clinical trials comparing latanoprost/timolol FC (FCLT) with dorzolamide/timolol (FCDT) in patients with elevated IOP. The efficacy estimates were measured by the weight mean difference (WMD) for the IOP reduction (IOPR) from baseline to end point, including the diurnal mean IOPR, 8 AM IOPR, 12 PM IOPR, and 4 PM IOPR. The tolerability estimates were measured by RR for adverse events. All outcomes were reported with a 95% confidence interval (CI). The data were synthesized by Stata 12.0 SE for Windows. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 841 patients (841 eyes) were included in the meta-analysis. With a WMD of IOPR in the diurnal mean of 0.16 mmHg (95% CI, -0.31 to 0.63), the FCLT was as effective as FCDT in lowering IOP in patients with elevated IOP (P = 0.51). The WMDs of IOPR were 0.58 mmHg (95% CI: -0.002 to 1.17) at 8 AM, -0.07 mmHg (95% CI: -0.50 to 0.36) at 12 PM, and 0.41 mmHg (95% CI: -0.18 to 1.00) at 4 PM, and there were no significant difference between FCLT and FCDT. FCLT was associated with a significantly lower incidence of eye pain, bitter taste, and irritation/stinging than FCDT, with pooled RRs of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.82), 0.06 (95% CI:0.008 to 0.42), and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.85), respectively. CONCLUSION: FCLT was associated with equivalent efficacy in IOP lowering comparing with FCDT. However, FCLT was better tolerated than FCDT.