Changes in glaucomatous visual field after switching from nonselective beta-blockers to betaxolol

We evaluated the visual field in 18 eyes of 10 glaucoma patients during 2 years each before and after substituting beta-blockers by betaxolol. The series comprised primary open-angle glaucoma 12 eyes, normal-tension glaucoma 4 eyes, chronic closed-angle glaucoma 1 eye and capsular glaucoma 1 eye. Twelve eyes had been treated by timolol and 6 eyes by carteolol before substitution. The intraocular pressure averaged 16.6±0.7 mmHg before and 15.7±0.8 mmHg after substituting to betaxolol. The difference was not significant. The visual field was evaluated by an automated perimeter by Humphrey. The mean deviation, that had been decreasing before substitution, became stabilized after substitution. The findings show that betaxolol may be superior to nonselective beta-blockers in preventing progression of glaucomatous visual field.