[Comparative study of levobunolol and timolol in the treatment of chronic open-angle glaucoma and chronic ocular hypertension].

Forty patients with chronic open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension participated in this randomized double-masked clinical trial. The patients instilled either 0.5% Levobunolol or 0.5% Timolol into each eye twice daily for three months. Levobunolol produced an overall decrease in mean intraocular pressure of approximately 7 mmHg, while Timolol produced an overall decrease of approximately 5 mmHg but no significant difference has been proved. Intraocular pressure was inadequately controlled in five patients in each treatment group. Both drugs caused heart rate decreases that were judged to be of limited clinical significance. Levobunolol was found to be as safe and effective as Timolol for the treatment of patients with open-angle glaucoma as for those with chronic ocular hypertension.