Betaxolol

• Type: Beta-1 selective blocker (a type of beta-blocker)

• Main Use: Lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) — the pressure inside the eye — to help treat glaucoma and ocular hypertension.

How It Works

• Betaxolol reduces the production of aqueous humor (the clear fluid inside the eye).

• By making less fluid, it lowers the pressure in the eye.

• This helps prevent damage to the optic nerve, which is the main concern in glaucoma.

Forms Available

• Usually given as eye drops.

• Sometimes available as oral tablets for other uses (like high blood pressure), but for glaucoma, the drop form is used.

Common Uses

• Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: The most common type of glaucoma.

• Ocular Hypertension: When eye pressure is high but not yet causing optic nerve damage.

Advantages

• More selective than other beta-blockers (like timolol), so it tends to cause fewer heart- and lung-related side effects.

• Safer for people with mild asthma or breathing issues compared to non-selective beta-blockers.

Possible Side Effects

• Local (eye-related): Stinging, burning, or eye discomfort right after use, blurred vision for a short time.

• Systemic (whole body): Rare but can include slow heart rate, fatigue, low blood pressure — especially if absorbed into the bloodstream.

Precautions

• Should be used carefully in people with severe asthma, very slow heart rate, or certain heart conditions.

• Patients should close their eyes for a minute and gently press the inner corner of the eye after applying drops to reduce absorption into the bloodstream.