A COMPARISON OF THE OCULAR HYPOTENSIVE EFFICACY AND SYSTEMIC SAFETY OF 0.5-PERCENT LEVOBUNOLOL AND 2-PERCENT CARTEOLOL

In a 3-month, double-masked, randomized clinical trial, the ocular hyp otensive efficacy and systemic safety of 0.5% levobunolol and 2% carte olol were compared in 59 patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular h ypertension. The overall mean decrease in intraocular pressure was 7.3 mm Hg (27.4%) in the 0.5% levobunolol group and 4.1mm Hg (14.8%) in t he carteolol group. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.0004). Changes in visual field and cup-disk ratios were few and sim ilar between the groups. Effects on mean heart rate were noted in both treatment groups. The mean decrease in heart rate in the carteolol gr oup was greater (-8.4 beats/min) than in the levobunolol group (-3.1 b eats/min). This difference had marginal statistical significance (p = 0.059). We conclude that 0.5% levobunolol and 2% carteolol administere d twice daily differ in lowering intraocular pressure as well as in th eir effects on heart rate.