advertisement
Abstract #10849 Published in IGR 6-2
Sustained perimacular vascular and visual response to topical beta blockers in normal human eyes
Sponsel WEBrain Research Bulletin 2004; 62: 529-35
PURPOSE: To assess visual and circulatory responses to treatment with topical beta adrenergic antagonists. DESIGN: Institutional prospective randomized clinical trial in normal adults. METHODS: Twenty adults (36 (mean) ± 8 (S.D.) years) underwent repeated baseline perimetry (Humphrey 30-2), contrast sensitivity (Vector Vision), perimacular microcirculatory studies (Oculix blue-field entoptic simulator), intraocular pressure (IOP), heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) testing. Subjects commenced either timolol 0.5% or betaxolol 0.5% twice daily on day 1, were retested on days 3 and 35, discontinued treatment for 21 days, whereupon repeated tests were performed. Treatment responses were compared by paired t-test. RESULTS: Timolol-treated eyes showed improvement in contrast sensitivity (P=0.03) and pericentral perimetric thresholds (P=0.01), but corresponding increases among betaxolol-treated eyes were significantly higher (P=0.03 and 0.04, respectively, relative to timolol-treated eyes). Leukocyte velocity increased with both drugs, each with post-withdrawal carryover (P< or =0.03). Significant IOP reduction (approximately 2.5 mmHg) occurred in both groups, BP fell 2.8 mmHg among betaxolol-treated subjects (P=0.02), and HR was 2 bpm slower among timolol-treated subjects (P=0.03), but all reverted to baseline values after washout. CONCLUSIONS: Both treatment groups demonstrated significant changes in visual function and perimacular hemodynamics, sustained after the terminal 3-week washout period.
South Texas Ocular Imaging Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA. Sponsel@uthscsa.edu
Classification:
11.3.4 Betablocker (Part of: 11 Medical treatment > 11.3 Adrenergic drugs)
