Levobetaxolol hydrochloride: a review of its pharmacology and use in the treatment of chronic open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension

Luciano Quaranta, Raffaele Turano, Teodoro Pizzolante

“Centro per lo Studio del Glaucoma” Spedali Civili di Brescia, Università degli Studi di Brescia, Brescia, Italy

Abstract: Levobetaxolol is a cardioselective β-blocker that has been demonstrated to reduce intraocular pressure in patients affected with primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension. Levobetaxolol may be an effective neuroprotectant because of its great capacity to block sodium and calcium influx, which might confer a neuroprotective activity. Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated the effects of levobetaxolol on ocular hemodynamics and visual field, and the pharmacologic differences between β-blockers currently used for the treatment of elevated IOP have become of more than academic interest since a number of studies have shown improvements to various extents. Unlike the initially manufactured 0.5% ophthalmic solution, levobetaxolol is suspended in a different delivery vehicle in levobetaxolol ophthalmic suspension, to increase the ocular tolerance and allow a similarity of effect with a 2-fold reduced concentration (0.25%).

Keywords: levobetaxolol, glaucoma, intraocular pressure, neuroprotection