Ocular effects of beta-blocking therapy.

A survey of 192 patients receiving beta-blocking drug therapy has been carried out. An ophthalmological examination was performed on each patient with particular reference to the clinical status of the cornea and conjunctiva, and to lacrimal function. A selected control group of 52 patients was similarly investigated. The results indicate that the beta-blocking drugs administered to the survey group did not produce any significant adverse effect on the cornea, conjunctiva, or tear secretion when compared with the control group. The findings did not provide any evidence to incriminate the non-practolol beta-blocking agents with the production of ocular pathology.