[Fluorophotometry by instillation. II. Effect of beta-blocker eyedrops in the normal subject]

The effects of various drugs on the human aqueous humor flow were studied by the fluorophotometric method of Yablonski (topical fluorescein instillation). The effect of the beta-adrenergic blocker (Timolol) on aqueous humor flow and on intra-ocular pressure has been studied in ten normal eyes on the Fluorotron Master. We found that the acute decrease in intra-ocular pressure was equal to 1.39 +/- 0.44 microliter.min-1 for the Timolol treated eyes, and equal to 2.79 +/- 0.57 microliter.min-1 for the untreated eyes (Placebo). The difference between Timolol and Placebo was statistically significant (Student t-tested, and Wilcoxon W-tested). The fluorophotometric method is superior to the tonographic method by giving a more favorable condition to study the facility of outflow in steady physiological state. Our results are in good agreement with other authors and show Timolol to have little or no effect on the facility of outflow.