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Thymoxamine is a selective alpha sympathetic blocking agent which may be used to stop the mydriasis induces by phenylephrine, ("safe mydriasis"), to differentiate an open but narrow angle glaucoma from an angle closure glaucoma, to treat an acute closure and to induce miosis without shallowing of the anterior chamber before laser trabeculoplasty.

A double-blind medium term study of the activity of timolol in chronic open-angle glaucoma was conducted in four French ophthalmological centers, using the same protocol. A total of 119 patients were treated: --60 with timolol; --59 with épinéphrine, for comparison. Results showed a significantly superior efficacy for timolol over épinéphrine, after in weeks of treatment. Good tonometric control was obtained in 81.6% of the patients treated with timolol, against 52.5% of those receiving épinéphrine. In 68% of the glaucomatons patients treated with timolol, good tonometric control was obtained with the lowest dose preparation containing 0.1%. No side-effects were noted during the study, either locally or generally (particularly blood pressure changes).

The use of the laser for treatment of different forms of primary glaucoma is proposed. In closed-angle glaucoma its use is limited to those cases where a large part of the angle is capable of ensuring drainage of aqueous humor. Pupilloplasty could be an alternative to iridotomy for relieving pupillary blockage. Peripheral circular gonioplasty can enlarge the angle. Finally, the laser can reduce ciliovitreolenticular blockage in malignant glaucoma. In patients with open-angle glaucoma, trabeculoplasty should be performed in the interval between medical and surgical treatments. Initial results appear promising but further study is necessary to evaluate the value of this type of therapy.