TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of topical phenylephrine 2.5% on episcleral venous pressure in normal human eyes
AU - Kazemi, Arash
AU - McLaren, Jay W.
AU - Sit, Arthur J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Inc.. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/10
Y1 - 2021/10
N2 - PURPOSE. Phenylephrine has been shown to affect intraocular pressure (IOP) but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. However, its action as a vasoconstrictor suggests possible effects on episcleral venous pressure (EVP). In this study, we evaluated the effect of phenylephrine on EVP and IOP in healthy subjects. METHODS. Forty eyes of 20 subjects were included. Each subject received 3 drops of phenylephrine 2.5% in one eye at 1-minute intervals. The fellow eye served as control. Blood pressure, heart rate, and IOP and EVP of both eyes were measured at baseline, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes after instillation of phenylephrine. IOP was measured by pneumatonometry. EVP was assessed by using a computer-controlled episcleral venomanometer. Changes in IOP, EVP, blood pressure, and heart rate at 15 and 60 minutes were analyzed by paired t-tests. RESULTS. IOP increased 15 minutes after instillation of phenylephrine in both treated (P = 0.001) and control eyes (P = 0.01) and returned to baseline at 60 minutes. The change in IOP at 15 minutes was not significantly different between the 2 groups. EVP in treated eyes was unchanged at 15 minutes (P = 0.8) but decreased significantly at 60 minutes (P < 0.001). In control eyes, there was no change in EVP at any time (P > 0.6). There were no significant changes from baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate after instillation of phenylephrine. CONCLUSIONS. IOP elevation associated with topical phenylephrine is not caused by an increase in EVP in healthy subjects. Instead, EVP decreases with phenylephrine, but the mechanism remains to be determined.
AB - PURPOSE. Phenylephrine has been shown to affect intraocular pressure (IOP) but the mechanism of action is poorly understood. However, its action as a vasoconstrictor suggests possible effects on episcleral venous pressure (EVP). In this study, we evaluated the effect of phenylephrine on EVP and IOP in healthy subjects. METHODS. Forty eyes of 20 subjects were included. Each subject received 3 drops of phenylephrine 2.5% in one eye at 1-minute intervals. The fellow eye served as control. Blood pressure, heart rate, and IOP and EVP of both eyes were measured at baseline, 15 minutes, and 60 minutes after instillation of phenylephrine. IOP was measured by pneumatonometry. EVP was assessed by using a computer-controlled episcleral venomanometer. Changes in IOP, EVP, blood pressure, and heart rate at 15 and 60 minutes were analyzed by paired t-tests. RESULTS. IOP increased 15 minutes after instillation of phenylephrine in both treated (P = 0.001) and control eyes (P = 0.01) and returned to baseline at 60 minutes. The change in IOP at 15 minutes was not significantly different between the 2 groups. EVP in treated eyes was unchanged at 15 minutes (P = 0.8) but decreased significantly at 60 minutes (P < 0.001). In control eyes, there was no change in EVP at any time (P > 0.6). There were no significant changes from baseline in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate after instillation of phenylephrine. CONCLUSIONS. IOP elevation associated with topical phenylephrine is not caused by an increase in EVP in healthy subjects. Instead, EVP decreases with phenylephrine, but the mechanism remains to be determined.
KW - Episcleral venous pressure
KW - Intraocular pressure
KW - Phenylephrine
KW - Vasoconstriction
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U2 - 10.1167/iovs.62.13.4
DO - 10.1167/iovs.62.13.4
M3 - Article
C2 - 34617960
AN - SCOPUS:85117694499
SN - 0146-0404
VL - 62
JO - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
JF - Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science
IS - 13
M1 - 4
ER -