Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Antiglaucoma medications during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight: a population-based study
1Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Objective:
To study the relationship between using antiglaucoma medications during pregnancy and the risk of having low-birth-weight (LBW) infants.
Methods:
The study group comprised 244 pregnant women who had been prescribed topical medication to control glaucoma during pregnancy. The comparison group comprised 1952 pregnant women matched for age, year of delivery, maternal hypertension and gestational diabetes. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to calculate the adjusted odds ratio of having LBW infants.
Results:
The majority of pregnant women (77.5%) were prescribed beta-blockers to control glaucoma. After adjusting for characteristics of the infant (gender, parity and gestational age), mother (age, the highest educational level, marital status, hypertension and gestational diabetes), father (the highest educational level), parental age difference and family monthly income, there was no significant difference in the risk of LBW infants between mothers prescribed beta-blockers and mothers in the comparison cohort (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.48, 95% CI 0.86 to 2.56). However, there was a significantly higher risk of LBW infants for mothers prescribed topical antiglaucoma medications other than beta-blockers (adjusted OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.05 to 5.00).
Conclusions:
Topical beta-blockers can be the first-line drugs when considering medical treatment of glaucoma in a pregnant woman.
Related Concept Videos
Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Upper Respiratory Drugs: Antitussives, Expectorants, and Mucolytics
Antitussives include codeine, dextromethorphan (Robitussin), and benzonatate (Tessalon). Codeine and dextromethorphan exert their effects centrally by suppressing the cough reflex center in the medulla. Benzonatate operates peripherally within the respiratory tract by anesthetizing...
Adrenergic Antagonists: ɑ and β-Receptor Blockers
Glaucoma: Overview
Drug Dosing: Obese Patients
Angle Closure Glaucoma: Treatment
