Topically applied bupranolol, a Β-adrenergic blocking agent, has been shown to have a marked effectiveness in lowering the intraocular pressure of the normal and glaucomatous eyes. The effects were not only seen in the treated eyes but also in the untreated, contralateral eyes. The contralateral response was independent of the ongoing diurnal variation of the intraocular pressure. Instillation of the drug into the nasal cavity induced decrease of the intraocular pressure in both eyes, the extent of which was comparable to the contralateral response induced by ocular instillation. These observations suggest that the contralateral response is caused by systemically absorbed drug, probably due to the action on the central locus regulating the intraocular pressure. Instillation of pilocarpine did not show any similar contralateral response.

High resolution ultrasonic biometry was performed on 3 normal volunteers (19–21 years of age) before and at 15-min intervals following topical application of 1% bupranolol and 2% pilocarpine. Bupranolol, a new β-adrenergic blocking agent, which lowers intraocular pressure of the normal and glaucomatous eyes, did not show any measurable change in the depth of the anterior chamber and thickness of the lens. On the other hand, all the subjects demonstrated a considerable degree of shallowing of the anterior chamber depth and thickening of the lens after instillation of pilocarpine.