This study evaluated the effect of a fixed combination of 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol (Tapcom®, Santen, Osaka, Japan) in glaucoma patients.

This study included 23 patients who were diagnosed with normal tension glaucoma and treated with a fixed combination of 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol as the first therapy. Diurnal intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured every 2 and 0.5 hours between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm. The IOP change with respect to body position (positional IOP) was measured at baseline and at 6 months after eye-drop instillations. IOP fluctuation was defined as the standard deviation of IOP measurements. Throughout the study, all side effects were recorded and monitored by the investigators.

The mean reduction in IOP in the 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol fixed combination-treated eyes was −3.37 ± 2.39 mmHg (−19.70 ± 13.97%) for the right eye and −3.22 ± 2.27 mmHg (−18.81 ± 13.28%) for the left eye (paired t -test, p < 0.001). The mean positional IOP measured at 4 pm at 6 months after 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol fixed combination instillation showed statistically significant reduction from the mean positional IOP at baseline. There was a significant difference in the number of patients with ≤3 mmHg IOP variation over four time points between baseline and at 6 months in the 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol fixed combination-treated eyes (McNemar test, p < 0.001). There was no serious adverse event causing ocular damage.

Use of 0.0015% tafluprost-0.5% timolol fixed combination was effective and well tolerated in reducing IOP and in maintaining its effectiveness in glaucoma patients.