ABSTRACT
Befunolol is a β-blocker used in the management of open-angle glaucoma. In pharmaceutical products, befunolol is employed as befunolol hydrochloride. In Ferrara, Italy, over a 65-month period before 2005, 50 patients affected by periorbital dermatitis while using topical ocular products were patch tested, including with their own ophthalmic medications. In Graz, Austria, before 1990, 7 patients with periorbital dermatitis had allergic contact dermatitis from topical beta-blockers used for treatment of glaucoma. In Tokyo, Japan, out of 3903 patients who were patch tested in the period January 1987 to December 1995, 141 (3.6%) were patch tested with eye drops and 49 individuals (35%) reacted positively and were diagnosed with allergic contact dermatitis. Generally speaking, cross-reactions between beta-blockers appear to be infrequent. A woman sensitized to levobunolol cross-reacted to befunolol.
