title: Uveitis associated with topical beta-blockers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the incidence of uveitis associated with topical beta-blockers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  A computerized database of a health maintenance organization was used to identify patients who were prescribed metipranolol or other beta-blockers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups: 1928 patients using 0.3% metipranolol and 3903 patients using other beta-blockers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases of uveitis were identified by noting a prescription of a topical corticosteroid and then conducting a chart review.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No cases of uveitis were identified among the 5831 patients. The upper limits of the 95% confidence intervals for the incidence of uveitis in cohorts of this size are 1.87 cases per 1000 person-years of exposure for metipranolol and 1.38 for other beta-blockers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Drug-induced uveitis from metipranolol or other beta-blocker administration is a rare event, even if a causal relationship exists.
authors.affiliation: Jaeb Center for Health Research, Tampa, USA. beck@jaeb.com
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moke
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Blair
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nissenbaum
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D014290:Metipranolol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014605:Uveitis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D014290:Metipranolol