Biomaterial Database

Corneal anesthesia after timolol maleate therapy. 1979

E M Van Buskirk

Symptomatic superficial punctate keratitis associated with complete corneal anesthesia occurred in three patients after they had been taking timolol maleate for glaucoma. After discontinuation of the timolol maleate and substitution of conventional antiglaucomatous collyria, the keratitis gradually cleared with restoration of normal corneal sensitivity. Corneal sensitivity, measured in 25 additional patients taking timolol maleate, was markedly diminished in four patients, all of whom were elderly and had been using the drug for a minimum of three months. Timolol maleate does appear to have some local anesthetic properties in human cornea after chronic use by susceptible individuals.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007634	Keratitis	Inflammation of the cornea.	Keratitides
D008297	Male		Males
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D011412	Propanolamines	AMINO ALCOHOLS containing the propanolamine (NH2CH2CHOHCH2) group and its derivatives.	Aminopropanols
D003315	Cornea	The transparent anterior portion of the fibrous coat of the eye consisting of five layers: stratified squamous CORNEAL EPITHELIUM; BOWMAN MEMBRANE; CORNEAL STROMA; DESCEMET MEMBRANE; and mesenchymal CORNEAL ENDOTHELIUM. It serves as the first refracting medium of the eye. It is structurally continuous with the SCLERA, avascular, receiving its nourishment by permeation through spaces between the lamellae, and is innervated by the ophthalmic division of the TRIGEMINAL NERVE via the ciliary nerves and those of the surrounding conjunctiva which together form plexuses. (Cline et al., Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Corneas
D005260	Female		Females
D005451	Fluorescein Angiography	Visualization of a vascular system after intravenous injection of a fluorescein solution. The images may be photographed or televised. It is used especially in studying the retinal and uveal vasculature.	Fluorescence Angiography,Fundus Fluorescence Photography,Angiography, Fluorescein,Angiography, Fluorescence,Fluorescence Photography, Fundus,Photography, Fundus Fluorescence
D005901	Glaucoma	An ocular disease, occurring in many forms, having as its primary characteristics an unstable or a sustained increase in the intraocular pressure which the eye cannot withstand without damage to its structure or impairment of its function. The consequences of the increased pressure may be manifested in a variety of symptoms, depending upon type and severity, such as excavation of the optic disk, hardness of the eyeball, corneal anesthesia, reduced visual acuity, seeing of colored halos around lights, disturbed dark adaptation, visual field defects, and headaches. (Dictionary of Visual Science, 4th ed)	Glaucomas
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000368	Aged	A person 65 years of age or older. For a person older than 79 years, AGED, 80 AND OVER is available.	Elderly