The hypotensive effect of verapamil eye drops on ocular hypertension

Verapamil eye drops (0.125%) were prepared in phosphate buffer (pH7). Ten patients with unilateral (5 cases) or bilateral (5 cases) ocular hypertension received the drug topically three times daily for two weeks. A significant reduction in the mean ocular tension was observed in 6 right eyes at the end of the first (4.5 mm Hg Schiotz) and second week (7 mm Hg Schiotz) and in 9 left eyes at the end of the second week (6.7 mm Hg Schiotz). The reduction in tension was minimal (1 mm Hg Schiotz) in the eyes with normal initial values. The systolic and diastolic blood pressured dropped by 12.8 mm Hg and 4.0 mm Hg in the first week and by 11.2 mm Hg and 5.4 mm Hg in the second week respectively. There was also a reduction in the mean pulse rate by 7 beats and 13 beats in the first and second week of therapy. These observations indicate persistent hypotensive effect of topical Verapamil on ocular hypertension and some amount of systemic absorption of the drug from eye.