advertisement
Abstract #8688 Published in IGR 5-1
Results of the betaxolol versus placebo treatment trial in ocular hypertension
Kamal D; Garway-Heath DF; Ruben S; O'Sullivan F; Bunce C; Viswanathan A; Franks W; Hitchings RAGraefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology 2003; 241: 196-203
PURPOSE: To determine whether treatment with betaxolol can delay or prevent the conversion from ocular hypertension to early glaucoma on the basis of visual field criteria, by means of a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-six ocular hypertensives were randomized to treatment with either betaxolol drops or placebo drops during the period 1992-1996. Each patient was followed prospectively with four-monthly visits. Examination at each visit included visual field testing, intraocular pressure (IOP) measurement and optic disc imaging. Conversion to early glaucoma was defined on the basis of visual field change by AGIS criteria. An intent-to-treat analysis compared visual field conversion after three years in the treatment and placebo arms. Normal visual field survival analysis was also performed. The IOP characteristics of the two treatment groups were compared. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-five patients completed the study, which ended in 1998, with a range of follow-up of two to six years. Sixteen (13.2%) of 121 patients in the placebo group converted to glaucoma, compared with 12 (9.0%) of 134 patients in the betaxolol group. The intent-to-treat analysis demonstrated no evidence of any difference in conversion rates between the betaxolol and placebo groups after three years. Visual field survival analysis demonstrated no significant difference between the betaxolol and placebo groups. The betaxolol-treated group had significantly lower post-treatment IOP values. Converters had significantly higher pre- and post-treatment IOP values than non-converters. CONCLUSIONS: Betaxolol significantly lowered the IOP level compared with placebo. Conversion to glaucoma was found to be related to both the baseline and post-treatment IOP levels. However, the intent-to-treat analysis did not demonstrate a statistically significant reduction in the conversion rate in the betaxolol-treated group.
Dr., D. Kamal, Glaucoma Research Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road, London , EC1V 2PD, UK. roger.hitchings@virgin.net
Classification:
11.3.4 Betablocker (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
