Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Intraocular pressure reduction during treatment with pilocarpine and systemic propranolol

A comparative double-masked study

  • Published:
Albrecht von Graefes Archiv für klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Propranolol, pilocarpine, and placebo were tested on eight patients with ocular hypertension. The trial was performed in a randomized double-masked cross-over manner utilizing the double dummy technique. After 1 week's treatment with 40 mg propranolol administered orally twice daily a statistically significant decrease in intraocular pressure (IOP) was seen. Also after application of 2% pilocarpine eyedrops three times a day IOP was significantly reduced. Propranolol decreased the IOP to about the same extent as pilocarpine. Simultaneous administration of propranolol and pilocarpine caused a further decrease in IOP which was statistically significant compared with the corresponding values during administration of pilocarpine alone. The combination of pilocarpine and propranolol lowered IOP slightly more than propranolol alone. The difference was not, however, statistically significant. During treatment with propranolol a significant decrease in heart rate was observed and a slight reduction of systemic blood pressure. It is concluded that propranolol can additively decrease IOP during treatment with pilocarpine.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bietti, G.: Recent experimental, clinical and therapeutic research on the problems of intraocular pressure and glaucoma. Amer. J. Ophthal.73, 475–500 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  • Bill, A.: Effects of norepinephrine, isoproterenol and sympathetic stimulation on aqueous humour dynamics in vervet monkeys. Exp. Eye Res.10, 31–46 (1970).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Borthne, A.: The treatment of glaucoma with propranolol (Inderal®): A clinical trial. Acta Ophthal. (Kbh.)54, 291–300 (1976)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Casey, W.: Cervical sympathetic stimulation in monkeys and the effects on outflow facility and intraocular volume. Invest. Ophthal.5, 33–41 (1966)

    Google Scholar 

  • Coté, G., Drance, S.: The effect of propranolol on human intraocular pressure. Canad. J. Ophthal.3, 207–212 (1968)

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Drance, S., Nash, P.: The dose response of human intraocular pressure to pilocarpine. Canad. J. Ophthal.6, 9–13 (1971)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenton, R.H., Schwartz, B.: The effect of 2% pilocarpine on the normal and glaucomatous eye. I. The time response of pressure. Invest. Ophthal.2, 289 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaasterland, D., Kupfer, C., Ross, K.: Studies of aqueous humor dynamics in man. IV. Effects of pilocarpine upon measurements in young normal volunteers. Invest. Ophthal.14, 848–853 (1975)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Langham, M., Diggs, E.: β-Adrenergic responses in the eyes of rabbits, primates and man. Exp. Eye Res.19, 281–295 (1974)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, M.J., Cullen, P.M., Phillips, C.I.: Atenolol versus propranolol. Brit. J. Ophthal.60, 789–791 (1976)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Öhrström, A.: Clinical experience with propranolol in the treatment of glaucoma. Acta Ophthal. (Kbh.)51, 639–644 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

  • Pandolfi, M., Öhrström, A.: Treatment of ocular hypertension with oral beta-adrenergic blocking agents. Acta Ophthal. (Kbh.)52, 464–467 (1974)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillips, C.I., Howitt, G., Rowlands, D.J.: Propranolol as ocular hypotensive agent. Brit. J. Ophthal.51, 222–226 (1967)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Sharaf, E., Haroun, E., Ishaac, Z., Shewy, T., Nassef, A.: The effect of some β-adrenergic blockers on human intraocular pressure. Exp. Eye Res.19, 223–225 (1974)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Vale, J., Phillips, C.I.: Effects of DL- and D-propranolol on ocular tension in rabbits and patients. Exp. Eye Res.9, 82–90 (1970)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weber, A.: Die Ursache des Glaukoms. Albrecht v. Graefes Arch. Ophthal.23, 1–91 (1877)

    Google Scholar 

  • Weekers, R., Demailly, P., Collignon-Brach, J.: Considérations sur la valeur du traitement par la pilocarpine dans le glaucome à angle ouvert. Arch. Ophthal.28, 399–404 (1968)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wettrell, K., Pandolfi, M.: Effect of oral administration of various beta-blocking agents on the intraocular pressure in healthy volunteers. Exp. Eye Res.21, 451–456 (1975)

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wettrell, K., Pandolfi, M.: Early dose response analysis of ocular hypotensive effects of propranolol in patients with ocular hypertension. Brit. J. Ophthal.60, 680–683 (1976)

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wettrell, K., Wilke, K., Pandolfi, M.: Effect of beta-adrenergic agonists and antagonists on repeated tonometry and episcleral venous pressure. Exp. Eye Res. (in press, 1977)

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital of Malmö, University of Lund, S-214 01, Malmö, Sweden

    Karin Wettrell

Authors
  1. Karin Wettrell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wettrell, K. Intraocular pressure reduction during treatment with pilocarpine and systemic propranolol. Albrecht v Graefes Arch. klin. exp. Ophthal. 204, 1–7 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02387411

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02387411

Keywords

Search

Navigation