Skip to main content
NCBI home page
The British Journal of Ophthalmology logoLink to The British Journal of Ophthalmology
. 1977 May;61(5):334–338. doi: 10.1136/bjo.61.5.334

Effect of topical atenolol on intraocular pressure.

K Wettrell, M Pandolfi
PMCID: PMC1042964  PMID: 326301

Abstract

Placebo and topical atenolol (Tenormin), a selective beta1-adrenergic blocking substance with no intrinsic sympathomimetic or membrane-stabilising properties, were tested in 16 patients with ocular hypertension in a double-blind cross-over trial. Three different concentrations of atenolol (1, 2, and 4%) were investigated. After a single instillation there was a statistically significant fall in mean intraocular pressure (IOP) with all the concentrations after one hour, with a maximum after two to three hours. The effect had passed off after seven hours. In multiple-dose studies with applications three times a day for seven days there was a statistically significant fall in the mean IOP on the first day of treatment (all three concentrations), which persisted throughout the week. In the single-dose study only a slight dose-dependence was observed. This could not be confirmed in the multiple-dose trial. Pupil size, corneal sensitivity, systemic blood pressure, and heart rate were unaffected. No side effects were noted. Thus topically applied atenolol lowers IOP in patients with ocular hypertension and may be clinically useful.

Full text

PDF
334

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bonomi I., Steindler P. Effect of pindolol on intraocular pressure. Br J Ophthalmol. 1975 Jun;59(6):301–303. doi: 10.1136/bjo.59.6.301. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Borthne A. The treatment of glaucoma with propranolol (Inderal). A clinical trial. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1976 Jul;54(3):291–300. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1976.tb01258.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Coté G., Drance S. M. The effect of propranolol on human intraocular pressure. Can J Ophthalmol. 1968 Jul;3(3):207–212. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Elliot M. J., Cullen P. M., Phillips C. I. Ocular hypotensive effect of atenolol (Tenormin, I.C.I.). A new beta-adrenergic blocker. Br J Ophthalmol. 1975 Jun;59(6):296–300. doi: 10.1136/bjo.59.6.296. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Hagedoorn A., Tjoa S. T. Letter: Practolol in the control of intraocular tension. Lancet. 1974 Apr 20;1(7860):733–733. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(74)92935-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Langham M. E. Proceedings: Adrenergic tachyphylaxis in animal and human eyes. Exp Eye Res. 1975 Feb;20(2):174–175. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(75)90157-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Musini A., Fabbri B., Bergamaschi M., Mandelli V., Shanks R. G. Comparison of the effect of propranolol, lignocaine, and other drugs on normal and raised intraocular pressure in man. Am J Ophthalmol. 1971 Oct;72(4):773–781. doi: 10.1016/0002-9394(71)90017-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Ohrström A. Clinical experience with propranolol in the treatment of glaucoma. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1973;51(5):639–644. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1973.tb08256.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Pandolfi M., Ohrström A. Treatment of ocular hypertension with oral beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh) 1974;52(4):464–467. doi: 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1974.tb01757.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Paterson G. D., Paterson G. A comparison of the ocular hypotensive actions of salbutamol and adrenaline in chronic simple glaucoma. Postgrad Med J. 1971 Mar;47(Suppl):122–124. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Paterson G. D., Paterson G. Drug therapy of glaucoma. Br J Ophthalmol. 1972 Mar;56(3):288–294. doi: 10.1136/bjo.56.3.288. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Phillips C. I., Howitt G., Rowlands D. J. Propranolol as ocular hypotensive agent. Br J Ophthalmol. 1967 Apr;51(4):222–226. doi: 10.1136/bjo.51.4.222. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Vale J., Gibbs A. C., Phillips C. I. Topical propranolol and ocular tension in the human. Br J Ophthalmol. 1972 Oct;56(10):770–775. doi: 10.1136/bjo.56.10.770. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Vale J., Phillips C. I. Effect of DL- and D-propranolol on oscular tension in rabbits and patients. Exp Eye Res. 1970 Jan;9(1):82–90. doi: 10.1016/s0014-4835(70)80061-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Vale J., Phillips C. I. Practolol (Eraldin) eye drops as an ocular hypotensive agent. Br J Ophthalmol. 1973 Mar;57(3):210–214. doi: 10.1136/bjo.57.3.210. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Wettrell K., Pandolfi M. Early dose response analysis of ocular hypotensive effects of propranolol in patients with ocular hypertension. Br J Ophthalmol. 1976 Oct;60(10):680–683. doi: 10.1136/bjo.60.10.680. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Wettrell K., Pandolfi M. Effect of oral administration of various beta-blocking agents on the intraocular pressure in healthy volunteers. Exp Eye Res. 1975 Nov;21(5):451–456. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(75)90126-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. el-Sharaf E. D., Haroun E. A., Ishaac Z., el-Shewy T. M., el-Nassef A. H. The effect of some beta-adrenergic blockers on human intraocular pressure. Exp Eye Res. 1974 Sep;19(3):223–225. doi: 10.1016/0014-4835(74)90140-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The British Journal of Ophthalmology are provided here courtesy of BMJ Publishing Group

RESOURCES