Influence of systemic administrated beta-blockers on tear secretion

The secretion of tears was evaluated by the Schirmer test in 96 patients and 66 controls. This article reports on the pharmacologic and not the immunologic effects of adrenergic beta-blockers on tear flow. The facilitation of lacrimal flow depends not only on the parasympathetic nerves but also on the beta adrenergic nerves. We found that the unselective adrenergic antagonist, propranolol, decreased the tear flow while, oxprenolol because of its intrinsic sympathomimetic activity, did not decrease significantly lacrimal secretion.