Efficacy of three different formulations of brimonidine for control of intraocular pressure in primary open-angle glaucoma: A 6-week randomized trial

BACKGROUND: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and safety of brimonidine (0.2%), brimonidine purite (0.15%), and brimonidine purite (0.1%) in patients of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty patients of POAG with IOP >21 mmHg were enrolled into this study for 6-week duration. The patients were randomly divided into three groups with 20 patients in each group. Group A instilled brimonidine 0.2%, Group B instilled brimonidine purite 0.15%, and Group C instilled brimonidine purite 0.1% twice daily. IOP was recorded by applanation tonometry at baseline and subsequently at 2, 4, and 6 weeks at 9:00–10:00 am during each visit around 30 min after instillation of eye drops. RESULTS: Mean IOP reduction in Group A was from 25.55 ± 2.01 to 19.85 ± 2.05 mmHg at the end of study, thus resulting in fall of 5.70 mmHg (22.30%), in Group B, it decreased from 25.65 ± 2.41 to 19.55 ± 2.43 mmHg, thus resulting in fall of 6.10 mmHg (23.78%), and in Group C, it decreased from 25.80 ± 2.26 mmHg to 19.85 ± 2.16 mmHg, thus resulting in fall of 6.35 mmHg (24.61%). There was no statistically significant difference in IOP-lowering efficacy of study drugs. Conjunctival hyperemia, foreign body sensation, dry eye, and papillary reaction were the important side effects seen with study drugs. Brimonidine 0.2% caused more side effects than brimonidine purite 0.15% and brimonidine purite 0.1%. CONCLUSION: All the three formulations of brimonidine produced statistically equal lowering of IOP in patients of POAG with reduced systemic and ocular adverse reactions with brimonidine purite 0.15% and 0.1%.