The effect of topical beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents on pulsatile ocular blood flow.

Thirty-three ocular hypertensive patients (21 with primary open angle glaucoma and 12 glaucoma suspects) were randomly assigned to receive either timolol, levobunolol or betaxolol in one eye. Pulsatile ocular blood flow (POBF) was measured before treatment (baseline) and 2 hours after drop administration. After 1 week of regular twice-daily dosage, POBF was measured again both immediately before and 2 hours after drop instillation. All measurements were made by an investigator masked to treatment. POBF increased by 11% (p = 0.09) at week 0 after levobunolol administration, and by 22% (p = 0.20) at week 1 before drop administration compared with baseline. It dropped by 23% and 25% (p = 0.04 and 0.06, respectively) before and after betaxolol administration at week 1. Although POBF was reduced in the timolol group, this change was not significant. These results can not be explained uniformly by changes in intraocular pressure or blood pressure. The relevance of these measurements to visual function in glaucoma is not known.