Abstract

β-Adrenergic blocking agents given systemically reduce intra-ocular pressure,¹ but until recently their topical use in glaucoma was limited by ocular and systemic adverse reactions. Timolol maleate eyedrops (Timoptol - MSD) is the first topical preparation of a β-blocker that is sufficiently well tolerated to be useful in chronic simple (open-angle) glaucoma and in ocular hypertension (raised intra-ocular pressure without damage to the eye).