Abstract
This single-blind, randomized study investigated the effects of unilateral instillation of 0.5% maleate timolol twice a day for 7 days on visual-field parameters of both eyes. Twelve normal, young subjects (30.6±4.2 years) participated in this study. Using program Gl of the Octopus 500 automated perimeter, the visual fields were measured one week and one day before therapy and a third time one week after beginning therapy. The paired T-test was used for statistical analysis, where a P-value⩽0.05 indicated significance. Whereas nothing statistically significant was found in the treated eyes, the contralateral, untreated eyes showed a statistically significant decrease of mean sensitivity between the first visual fields and the third ones (P< 0.01) This diminution of mean sensitivity in the untreated contralateral eyes may be due to statistically significant lowering of blood pressure (P<0.01) and slowing of cardiac frequency, which were not compensated by a local decrease of intraocular pressure. If confirmed, these findings could be of clinical importance in the management of glaucoma patients, since some authors have, in some cases, recommended a unilateral therapy.
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Martin, X.D., Fankhauser, F. & Rabineau, P.A. Effects of timolol on visual-field mean retinal sensitivity in normal subjects. Int Ophthalmol 16, 325–329 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917985
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00917985