Comparison of the effects of 0.5% timolol maleate, 2% carteolol hydrochloride, and 0.3% metipranolol on intraocular pressure and perimetry findings and evaluation of their ocular and systemic effects.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of 0.5% timolol maleate, 2% carteolol, and 0.3% metipranolol on intraocular pressure (IOP) in 45 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and ocular hypertension. A secondary goal of this study was to evaluate the ocular and systemic side effects of these medications.


METHODS
Measurements of IOP were taken at baseline (pretreatment) and 2, 6, and 12 hours after instillation on treatment days 15, 30, 60, and 90. Mean sensitivity (MS) and mean defect (MD) values of perimetry before and after treatment and the effects of the three beta blockers on serum lipid profiles were determined. Ocular and systemic side effects were recorded.


RESULTS
The most prominent IOP lowering effect was noted with metipranolol at 2 and 6 hours on day 15, and with timolol maleate at 12 hours on day 15 and at all hours of the subsequent days on which measurements were taken. Timolol maleate produced a significant decrease in IOP at 12 hours on day 15 compared with carteolol. There was not a statistically significant difference between the MS and MD values on perimetry before and after treatment for any treatment. There was a statistically significant decrease in levels of total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and a significant increase in triglyceride levels; these changes were observed for all treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
The effects of the three medications were not statistically different from each other in terms of IOP reduction and visual field changes. Careful monitoring of blood lipid levels is necessary with long-term treatment with beta blockers, because these agents reduced serum levels of HDL and total cholesterol while increasing triglycerides. Such changes in lipid levels could lead to increased incidence of complications, particularly in patients with atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease.
Mirza
G E
GE
Department of Ophthalmology, Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
Karaküçük
S
S
Temel
E
E
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002354:Carteolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D014290:Metipranolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013999:Timolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D058609:Visual Field Tests; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D008055:Lipids; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013999:Timolol; D002354:Carteolol; D014290:Metipranolol