The long-term ocular and systemic effects of topically applied metoprolol tartrate in glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

Ten patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma were treated over 4 months with the betablocker Metoprolol tartrate as 3% eye drops twice daily. Intraocular pressures were significantly lowered by the drug in all patients throughout the study. The mean initial IOP response was 36% relative decrease, the maintenance IOP decrease ranged between 23 and 30%. There was partial loss of the initial response within the first weeks of treatment. Topical Metoprolol treatment possibly affects systolic blood pressure and heart rate. There had been no objective side effects of Metoprolol treatment. The most common subjective side effects were burning, itching and tearing. The therapeutic significance of the results is discussed.