Intraocular pressure with rebound tonometry and effects of topical intraocular pressure reducing medications in guinea pigs.

AIM: To investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP) of adult guinea pig eyes with rebound tonometry (RBT), and assess the effects of four distinctive topical IOP reducing medications including Carteolol, Brimonidine, Brinzolamide and Latanoprost.

METHODS: The IOPs of twenty-four 12-week-old guinea pigs (48 eyes) were measured every two hours in one day with RBT as baselines. All the animals were then divided into four groups (Carteolol, Brimonidine, Brinzolamide and Latanaprost groups, n =6). The IOPs were measured and compared to the baseline 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, 15 and 24h after treatment.

RESULTS: The mean baseline IOP of 24 guinea pigs (48 eyes) was 10.3±0.36 mm Hg (6-13 mm Hg) and no binocular significant differences of IOPs were observed ( t =1.76, P >0.05). No significant difference of IOP in Carteolol group at each time point was observed before and after treatment ( t =1.48, P >0.05). In Brimonidine group, IOP was 2.2±1.9 mm Hg lower than the baseline after one hour ( t =3.856, P =0.003) and lasted for one hour. In Brinzolamide group, IOP was 1.4±1.1 mm Hg lower than the baseline after one hour ( t =4.53, P =0.001) and lasted for 7h and the IOP declined most at 3h. In Latanaprost group, IOP was 2.1±1.3 mm Hg lower than the baseline after one hour ( t =6.11, P =0.001) and lasted for one hour.

CONCLUSION: The IOP of guinea pig eyes is relatively stable compared to human eyes. In four reducing IOP medications, no significant effect of Carteolol is observed. Brinzolamide has the longest duration, while the Brimonidine has the shortest duration and the maximum level of treatment.