Cardiovascular effects of befunolol, betaxolol and timolol eye drops

A double-blind cross-over study was carried out on 15 glaucoma patients so as to verify the effects of three the beta blockers, beta-1 selective betaxolol, non-selective timolol and befunolol an agent with intrinsic sympathomimetic activity on the heart rate, monitored by a Holter apparatus, and with the blood pressure measured in standing and supine positions before and after eight days of topical therapy. The results showed that timolol induced a significant decrease in minimum heart rate (-4.2 +/- 2.9) (p less than 0.001) and in diastolic blood pressure in standing position (-8.0 +/- 12.5 mmHg) (p less than 0.05), betaxolol decreased systolic pressure in orthostatism (-7.5 +/- 12.3 mmHg) and in clinostatism (-12.1 +/- 16.2 mmHg) and diastolic pressure in orthostatism (-6.25 +/- 9.4 mmHg) (p less than 0.05). Befunolol alone did not alter the heart rate or blood pressure.