title: Results of the betaxolol versus placebo treatment trial in ocular hypertension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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, randomised, 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 4-monthly visits. Examination at each visit included visual field testing, intra-ocular 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 3 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 2-6 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 3 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.
authors.affiliation: Glaucoma Research Unit, Moorfields Eye Hospital, City Road, London, EC1V 2PD UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kamal
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garway-Heath
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ruben
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: Catey
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bunce
authors.forename: Anath
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Viswanathan
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Franks
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hitchings
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D015784:Betaxolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014794:Visual Fields / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015784:Betaxolol