Systemic beta-blockers have ‘negligible’ effect on IOP reduction

Non-glaucoma subjects who take selective or non-selective systemic beta-blockers did not experience significantly lowered IOP, according to a study.

Researchers evaluated the IOP of 13,527 non-glaucoma subjects in the Gutenberg Health Study, a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany. Several cardiovascular medications, including beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, renin-angiotensin blockers and other medications, were evaluated, and IOP was measured with a non-contact tonometer.

The overall mean IOP for the cohort was 14.2 mm Hg.

There was no association between statistically significant lower IOP and the use of selective or non-selective beta-blockers.

In a multivariable linear regression model, ACE inhibitors and renin-angiotensin blockers in general showed an association with IOP, but after adjusting for BMI, systolic blood pressure and central corneal thickness, no associations were seen.

“While non-selective systemic -blocker intake showed a clinically relevant association and a borderline significant trend with IOP decrease, the use of the widespread modern cardio-selective -blockers and all other cardiovascular medication did not. The missing IOP-lowering effect of systemic -blocker might be explained by the long-term drift, which describes a well-known reduction in efficacy of topical -blocker over months and years. ... Our results suggest that systemic -blockers have — if at all — a negligible effect on IOP reduction,” the study authors wrote. – by Robert Linnehan

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.

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Source:

Höhn R, et al. Br J Ophthalmol. 2017;doi:10.1136/bjophthalmol-2016-309993.