A myth of ophthalmic beta-blockers therapy

Dear Editor,

I read with interest the article by Ramdas and colleagues [1] who state that patients with a cardiovascular history are not likely to receive ophthalmic beta-blockers from their ophthalmologist. This is a myth that deserves further discussion. Table 1 shows that topical beta-blockers are not contraindicated in every cardiovascular disease, and new guidelines recommend use of beta-blockers in many patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure [2].

Lastly, Dr. Charles Sidney Burwell (1893–1967), Dean of Harvard Medical School, said “half of what you are taught as medical students will in 10 years have been shown to be wrong. And the trouble is, none of your teachers knows which half” [3].