Economic evaluation of dorzolamide vs. pilocarpine for primary open-angle glaucoma.

This is a critical abstract of an economic evaluation that meets the criteria for inclusion on NHS EED. Each abstract contains a brief summary of the methods, the results and conclusions followed by a detailed critical assessment on the reliability of the study and the conclusions drawn. Dorzolamide hydrochloride, a topically administered carbonic anhydrase therapy inhibitor for patients with primary open-angle glaucoma for whom beta-blockers have failed. A hypothetical cohort of patients over 65 years of age with primary open-angle glaucoma. Setting Secondary care. The economic study was conducted in Ontario, Canada. The dates of the effectiveness and the resource use data were not reported. The price year was 1996. Estimates of effectiveness were based partly on a review of published literature and partly on opinion. A Markov-type decision model was used in order to estimate costs and benefits over a 10-year time period. The outcomes assessed were the efficacy, annual probabilities of discontinuation of therapy, annual rate of adverse events, and the rate of compliance for pilocarpine and dorzolamide strategies. Also the efficacy (success rate) of laser treatment and surgery, and probability of the use of medication after surgery were assessed.