The Benefits of TIMOPTIC® in OCUDOSE®
For patients with glaucoma who are most sensitive to the side effects associated with preservatives in eye drops, TIMOPTIC® in OCUDOSE® offers a preservative-free alternative.
TIMOPTIC® in OCUDOSE® has shown clinical impact beyond IOP reduction.1
TIMOPTIC® in OCUDOSE® does not contain BAK (benzalkonium chloride), which has been shown to adversely affect both the cornea and conjunctiva, thereby leading to ocular damage.2
- Studies have shown that a preservative-free timolol eye drop is less toxic for the ocular surface3
- Using preservative-free medication may reduce side effects and increase medication tolerability
Ocular Health Advantages of Preservative-free Medication
TIMOPTIC® in OCUDOSE® maintains tear film stability and tear film breakup time. In contrast, it has been documented that the use of preservatives leads to tear film instability and ocular surface inflammatory changes.1
The potential for long-term consequences of ocular surface toxicity is reduced, along with superficial punctate keratitis1
In a large epidemiological study, compared with preserved eye drops, preservative-free eye drops showed the following advantages3:
- Less frequency of all symptoms
- Less discomfort upon administration of eye drops
- Less frequently reported signs of ocular surface damage
- Fewer instances of mild or severe superficial punctate keratitis
- Less frequency of blepharitis and eczema
- Conjunctival signs were less present
- Patients who were switched from preservative to preservative-free eye drops showed a significant decrease in the frequency of side effects
Unpreserved timolol, found in TIMOPTIC®, has been found to not cause any ocular cell toxicity.4
A prospective, crossover, randomized clinical study of patients with open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension determined that the use of preservative-free medication was preferred for the treatment of chronic glaucoma, in order to avoid side effects and improve patient adherence.1
References: 1. Manni G, Centofanti M, Oddone F, Parravano M, Bucci MG. Interleukin-1 βtear concentration in glaucomatod/us and ocular hypertensive patients treated with preservative-free nonselective beta-blockers. Am J Ophthalmol. 2005;139:72-77. 2. Noecker RJ, Herrygers LA, Anwaruddin R. Corneal and conjunctival changes caused by commonly used glaucoma medications. Cornea. 2004;23:490-496. 3. Pisella PJ, Pouliquen P, Baudouin C. Prevalence of ocular symptoms and signs with preserved and preservative free glaucoma medication. Br J Ophthalmol 2002;86:418-423. 4. Pisella PJ, Debbasch C, Hamard P, et al. Conjunctival proinflammatory and proapoptotic effects of latanoprost and preserved and unpreserved timolol: an ex vivo and in vitro study. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2004;45:1360-1368.
