The effect of oral treatment with beta blockers on the tear secretion.

Abstract

Tear secretion was examined in 194 patients treated with oral beta blockers, mainly with propranolol, oxprenolol, pindolol, and atenolol, and metaprolol and in 185 healthy control subjects. Statistical analysis included the Student's t test used to compare the mean values of tear secretion and the chi square test used to compare the percentage of eyes with tear hyposecretion between treated and control groups. This statistical study showed clearly that oral beta blockers significantly reduce the tear secretion.