Effect of Alpha-Chymotrypsin on the Outflow Facility in Rabbit Eyes

ABSTRACT

Alpha-chymotrypsin solutions, 200 unit/ml and 1,000 unit/ml, were injected into the anterior chamber of albino rabbit eyes fonowed by irrigation with normal saline after 3 minutes. Intraocular pressure was recorded by pressure transducer and pressure decay curve analysis was made to calculate the outflow facility according to the method of Eisenlohr and Langham. The follow-up periods were 30 days after the injection of the enzyme solution. By the injection of 0.25 ml of 200 unit/ml solution in 7 eyes, intraocular pressure showed almost no changes throughout the observation period. Outflow facility showed transient decrease during the first 3 to 5 days in some eyes. After the injection of 0.25 ml of 1,000 unit/ml solution in 3 eyes, transient elevation of the intraocular pressure was noted associated with decrease in outflow facility. In one eye, a marked rise in ocular pressure was found All the changes in intraocular pressure and outflow facility returned to the pre-treatment level within 30 days. It was concluded that high concentration of the alpha-chymotrypsin solution injected into the anterior chamber might cause disturbances in trabecular function causing elevation in intraocular pressure.