title: [Preservative-free betaxolol for POAG patients: evaluation of hypotensive effect and ocular surface safety].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate ocular surface changes in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) as well as the hypotensive effect of preservative-free betaxolol eye drops.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 22 patients (42 eyes) aged 55-83 with POAG stage I-II were examined. All of them were switched from betaxolol b.i.d. to its preservative-free analogue (Xonef BK). The baseline examination included visual acuity measurement, Morisky-Green test (questionnaire), Norn test, Schirmer's test, lissamine green staining, and ocular tonometry. The latter was repeated 2 and 4 weeks after the drug had been switched, while the whole complex--2 months after the beginning of the study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total tear production in POAG patients under betaxolol therapy was 19.1 ± 10.6 mm. After the 2 months of preservative-free betaxolol use there were no statistically significant changes in Schirmer's test results (p = 0.248). Tear film break-up time (Norn test) improved from 7.8 ± 0.5 secto 9.8 ± 0.8 sec (p = 0.067) as well as the results of lissamine green staining (W = 90.0, p < 0.022). In the Morisky-Green Test betaxolol patients scored only 2.6 ± 0.05 points on average, thus showing non-compliance. After the 2 months of preservative-free betaxolol instillations the scores increased up to 3.1 ± 0.07 (p = 0.04). According to Dunnett's test, used for multiple comparisons, intraocular pressure did not change significantly in either of the study periods (baseline and follow-up measurements at weeks 2, 4, and 8 were taken into account).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study proves Xonef BK safe, effective, and appropriate in all types of glaucoma.
authors.affiliation: Novokuznetsk State Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 5 Stroiteley prospekt, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian Federation, 654005.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Onischenko
authors.affiliation: Novokuznetsk State Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 5 Stroiteley prospekt, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian Federation, 654005.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Dimaksyan
authors.affiliation: Novokuznetsk State Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 5 Stroiteley prospekt, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian Federation, 654005.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Kolbasko
authors.affiliation: Novokuznetsk State Institute of Postgraduate Medicine, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 5 Stroiteley prospekt, Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo Oblast, Russian Federation, 654005.
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Zilina
mesh_terms: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000368:Aged; D015784:Betaxolol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D016903:Drug Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D013666:Tears / Q000378:metabolism; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058671:Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D015784:Betaxolol