Glaucoma drug therapy in pregnancy: literature review and Teratology Information Service (TIS) case series

BACKGROUND: there are many contradictions about pregnancy and fetal/neonatal outcomes after topical use of timolol alone or timolol in combination with other antiglaucoma medications. METHOD: Seventy-five pregnant women exposed to antiglaucoma medications were followed prospectively by phone interviews. 27 women used timolol as monotherapy, 48 women used timolol as part of multidrug therapy. We selected a control group of 187 healthy pregnant women. RESULTS: topical use of timolol alone or timolol in combination with other antiglaucoma medications don't influence pregnancy or fetal/neonatal outcomes. CONCLUSION: beta-blocker is the first choice treatment for glaucoma in pregnancy but, when necessary, multidrug therapy should not to be excluded.