Special Warning : אזהרת שימוש

4.4   Special warnings and precautions for use

Like other topically applied ophthalmic agents, timolol is absorbed systemically. Due to beta-adrenergic component, timolol, the same types of cardiovascular, pulmonary and other adverse reactions seen with systemic beta-adrenergic blocking agents may occur.
Incidence of systemic ADRs after topical ophthalmic administration is lower than for systemic administration. To reduce the systemic absorption, see 4.2.

Cardiac disorders:
In patients with cardiovascular diseases (e.g. coronary heart disease, Prinzmetal's angina and cardiac failure) and hypotension therapy with beta-blockers should be critically assessed and the therapy with other active substances should be considered. Patients with cardiovascular diseases should be watched for signs of deterioration of these diseases and of adverse reactions.

Due to its negative effect on conduction time, beta-blockers should only be given with caution to patients with first degree heart block.

Cardiac failure should be adequately controlled before beginning therapy with ‘V- OPTIC 0.25%’. Patients with a history of severe cardiac disease should be watched for signsof cardiac failure and have their pulse rates monitored.

Vascular disorders
Patients with severe peripheral circulatory disturbance/disorders (i.e. severe forms of Raynaud’s disease or Raynaud’s syndrome) should be treated with caution.

Respiratory disorders:


Respiratory reactions, including death due to bronchospasm in patients with asthma have been reported following administration of some ophthalmic beta-blockers.

‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ should be used with caution, in patients with mild/moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and only if the potential benefit outweighs the potential risk.

Hypoglycaemia/diabetes
Beta-blockers should be administered with caution in patients subject to spontaneous hypoglycaemia or to patients with labile diabetes, as beta-blockers may mask the signs and symptoms of acute hypoglycaemia.

Beta-blockers may also mask the signs of hyperthyroidism.

Corneal diseases
Ophthalmic beta-blockers may induce dryness of eyes. Patients with corneal diseases should be treated with caution.

Other beta-blocking agents
The effect on intra-ocular pressure or the known effects of systemic beta-blockade may be potentiated when timolol is given to the patients already receiving a systemic beta-blocking agent. The response of these patients should be closely observed. The use of two topical beta-adrenergic blocking agents is not recommended (see section 4.5).

There have been reports of skin rashes and/or dry eyes associated with the use of beta- adrenoreceptor blocking drugs. The reported incidence is small and in most cases the symptoms have cleared when treatment was withdrawn. Discontinuation of the drug should be considered if any such reaction is not otherwise explicable. Cessationof therapy involving beta-blockade should be gradual.

Choroidal detachment
Choroidal detachment has been reported with administration of aqueous suppressant therapy (e.g. timolol, acetazolamide) after filtration procedures.

Surgical anaesthesia
Beta-blocking ophthalmological preparations may block systemic beta-agonist effects e.g. of epinephrine (adrenaline). The anaesthesiologist should be informed when the patient is receiving timolol.

‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ has been generally well tolerated in glaucoma patients wearing conventional hard contact lenses. ‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ has not been studied in patients wearing lenses made with material other than polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), which is used to makehard contact lenses.

‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ contains Benzalkonium Chloride as a preservative which may be deposited insoft contact lenses; therefore ‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ should not be used while wearing these lenses. The lenses should be removed before application of the drops and not reinserted earlier than 15 minutes after use.



In patients with angle-closure glaucoma, the immediate objective of treatment is to reopen the angle. This requires constricting the pupil with a miotic. ‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ has little or no effect on the pupil. When ‘V-OPTIC 0.25%’ is used to reduce elevated intra-ocular pressure in angle-closure glaucoma it should be used with a miotic and not alone.

Patients should be advised that if they develop an intercurrent ocular condition (e.g.
trauma, ocular surgery or infection), they should immediately seek their physician’s advice concerning the continued use of the present multidose bottle (see 6.6 ‘Special precautions for disposal and other handling’).

There have been reports of bacterial keratitis associated with the use of multiple dose containers of topical ophthalmic products. These containers had been inadvertently contaminated by patients who, in most cases, had a concurrent corneal disease or a disruption of the ocular epithelial surface.

Anaphylactic reactions
While taking beta-blockers, patients with a history of atopy or a history of severe anaphylactic reaction to a variety of allergens may be more reactive to repeated challenge with such allergens and, may be unresponsive to the usual dose of epinephrine (adrenaline) used to treat anaphylactic reactions.

Effects on Driving