A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF TOPICAL BETAXALOL AND TIMOLOL FOR THEIR EFFICACY AND SIDE EFFECTS

Purpose: Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) is one such field in Ophthalmology where ophthalmologists have failed to stop blindness due to it. All the available treatment modalities are directed towards the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) but without interfering the basic aetiopathogenesis. In this study we propose to study efficacy, potency and adverse effects of topical Timolol and Betaxalol in primary open angle glaucoma. Methodology: A comparative study of topical Betaxalol 0.5% and Timolol 0.5% in the management of POAG was conducted at Tertiary care hospital. Fifty patients of newly diagnosed POAG of different age, sex, religion from both urban and rural population attending eye OPD were included in this study. 25 patients were treated with topical Timolol maleate 0.5% ophthalmic solution BD and 25 patients were treated with topical 0.5% Betaxalol hydrochloride phthalmic solution BD. At 20 weeks follow up IOP levels n both the groups measured by applanation tonometer were compare to each other. Results: In this study a total of 50 patients with POAG were studied. 25 patients were treated with Timolol maleate 0.5% ophthalmic solution and 25 patients were treated with 0.5% Betaxalol hydrochloride ophthalmic solution. Out of 50 patients, 29 (58%) were male and 21(42%) were female patients. POAG was most common in the age group of 51-60 years with average age 51.50 (S.D. 9.8) years. Average age in males was 54.50 years, while in female it was 49.31 years. Conclusion: both Timolol and Betaxalol are effective in decreasing IOP in POAG patients. The magnitude of Timolol in decreasing IOP is more as compared to Betaxalol. The selective beta 1 adrenergic inhibition of Betaxalol provides an added benefit for those patients in whom beta 2 blockade could be harmful.