Effect of betaxolol on the retinal circulation in eyes with ocular hypertension: a pilot study.

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of betaxolol, a beta 1 selective blocker, on the retinal circulation in 10 patients with ocular hypertension. In a masked randomised fashion, one eye of each subject received betaxolol and the fellow eye received placebo (hypromellose). Retinal blood flow (RBF) was determined in a major temporal vein of each eye just prior to instillation of drops and 2 h later, using laser Doppler velocimetry and monochromatic fundus photography. There was an increase of 15.0% in RBF (p = 0.03) in the betaxolol-treated eyes. No significant change was observed in the placebo-treated eyes. Intraocular pressure was reduced by 27.7% in the treated eyes, resulting in an increase of 16.9% in perfusion pressure (p = 0.02) compared with an 8.4% increase in placebo-treated eyes (p = 0.15). This study demonstrated that betaxolol increases RBF in eyes with ocular hypertension; this increase is probably related to the increase in perfusion pressure.

• Authors: A Gupta, H C Chen, S M Rassam, E M Kohner
• Journal: Eye (London, England) (Eye (Lond)) Vol. 8 ( Pt 6) Pg. 668-71 ( 1994) ISSN: 0950-222X [Print] England
• PMID: 7867825 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Betaxolol

Topics

• Administration, Topical
• Betaxolol (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Blood Flow Velocity (drug effects)
• Humans
• Intraocular Pressure (drug effects)
• Ocular Hypertension (drug therapy)
• Pilot Projects
• Regional Blood Flow (drug effects)
• Retinal Vessels (drug effects)