Table 1
Calculated incidence of ocular side effects of topical β blockers
| β Blocker | Cases | Vials sold during study period | Incidence (cases/1000 patient years) (95% confidence interval) |
| bufenolol | 1 | 2289 | 5.24 (0, 15.51) |
| metipranolol | 5 | 14288 | 4.20 (0.52, 7.88) |
| carteolol | 3 | 13620 | 2.64 (0, 5.63) |
| levobunolol | 5 | 29611 | 2.03 (0.25, 3.81) |
| timolol | 16 | 151434 | 1.27 (0.65, 1.89) |
| betaxolol | 4 | 58478 | 0.82 (0.02, 1.60) |
| total | 34 | 269720 | 1.51 (1.00, 2.02) |
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↵Cases were defined as any patient whose topical β blocker therapy was altered because of an ocular reaction open to objectification by the ophthalmologist.
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↵Sales figures of topical β blockers were used to estimate the number of patients using topical β blockers. It was assumed that one patient uses one vial of β blocker in 1 month.
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↵No significant differences were found between β blockers.
