The effect of topical beta-blocker medications on the proliferation and viability of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in tissue culture.

Several recent publications have suggested that the long-term use of topical antiglaucoma medications may be detrimental to the outcome of trabeculectomy. In this study we investigated the effect of topical beta-blocker medications on the proliferation and viability of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts in tissue culture to see if there was a direct mechanism of enhanced proliferation. None of the tested medications stimulated the proliferation of fibroblasts. They were shown to have an inhibitory effect on proliferation and were toxic to cells at higher concentrations. The relevance of these findings to wound healing following trabeculectomy is discussed.