[Therapeutic consequences of glaucoma treatment with different beta blockers in patients with obstructive respiratory...

In patients in whom chronic obstructive bronchial disease and chronic glaucoma had been diagnosed, the most important ventilation parameters and intraocular pressures were investigated in a double-blind cross-over study. The airway resistance, the forced expiratory volume within the first second, the thoracic volume, and the mean expiratory flow in these patients exhibited significant differences after treatment with non-cardioselective beta-blocking agents, depending on the beta-receptor stimulating action of this ophthalmic solution (Pindolol 1% eye drops) or without any intrinsic sympathicomimetic action (Metipranolol 0.6% eye drops). There was no fundamental difference in the intraocular pressure-lowering effect of these two locally applied beta-blocking solutions. This study implies that when selecting a beta-blocking ophthalmic solution for anti-glaucoma treatment, the existence of an ISA effect of these eye drops is relevant only to avoid systemic side effects such as bronchopulmonary obstruction.