Decreased intraocular pressure in the hypertensive human eye with betaxolol, a β1-adrenergic antagonist

摘要: In a double-masked randomized prospective study, 19 adult white subjects with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension were treated twice daily drops of 0.25% betaxolol (a relatively selective β 1 -adenoceptor antagonist) placebo for six weeks. The nine betaxolol-treated demonstrated statistically significant average decrease in intraocular pressure 3.8 ± 5 mm Hg, evident after one week and persisting throughout the entire six-week treatment period. ten placebo-treated exhibited nonsignificant increase 0.4 2.4 Hg. Mean systemic arterial blood pressure, pulse rate, corneal sensitivity, pupil diameter, basal tear secretion remained unchanged both groups. Transient stinging upon instillation eye-drops was only side effect but no case did it necessitate cessation therapy.