Table 2.
Trials excluded from meta-analysis, with reason for exclusion
| Study | Study design | Outcome | Comment | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shin et al 197618 | Randomised controlled trial, epinephrine treatment (1-2% twice daily) v observation in ocular hypertension Randomised: 38 eyes of patients Duration: 1-5 years End points: deterioration of visual field or optic disc | After 1-5 years follow-up, 2 treated v 11 control patients reached end points (P<0.01) | Significant treatment effect of reduction of intraocular pressure. Effect of epinephrine on control eye possible. No data about dropout rate, no definition of ocular hypertension, no analysis by intention to treat | No true control group (compared eyes and not patients) |
| Kitazawa et al 198119 | Controlled trial, timolol treatment (0.25-0.5% bid) v placebo in ocular hypertension Included: 52 patients Duration: 1 year Endpoints: deterioration of visual field | After 1 year follow-up, 1 treated v 2 control patients reached end points·(P>0.1) | Non-significant treatment effect. No analysis by intention to treat, no data about dropout rate | Probably no randomisation Short follow-up |
| Kass et al 198920 | Double blind randomised controlled trial, timolol (0.25% twice daily) in one eye v no treatment in the other in 62 patients with ocular hypertension Duration: 5 years End points: Visual field deterioration, disc haemorrhage, glaucomatous disc | After 5 years follow-up, 4 treated eyes v 10 untreated eyes reached end points (P<0.05) | Beneficial effect on deterioration of visual field. Effect of timolol on control eye possible. High dropout rate of >20% | No true control group (compared eyes and not patients) |
| Holmin et al 198821 | Randomised controlled trial, various medications v observation in primary open angle glaucoma. Randomised: 16 patients Duration: 3 years End point: Deterioration of visual field | Per protocol: regression analysis showed no significant difference between treated and untreated patients | Missing data on dropout rate and numbers of patients who reached end points | Necessary data could not be extracted for analysis |