Comparison of effects of topical levobunolol to a combination of timolol-dorzolamide on intraocular pressure and pulse rate of healthy dogs

摘要

The primary aim of glaucoma management is the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP), either by decreasing the production of the aqueous humor or by increasing the outflow from the eyes. Different classes of drugs have been mainstays in the treatment of glaucoma: carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (dorzolamide, acetazolamide, methazolamide) alone or associated with β-adrenergic antagonists (timolol, betaxol) (Wilkie and Latimer 1991), F2α prostaglandin analogue (latanoprost 0.005%, travoprost 0.004%); less used α2-agonist (brimonidine 0.2%, apraclonidine 0.5%) and parasympathomimetic drugs (pilocarpine, carbacol) (Gelatt and Brooks 1999; Maehara et al. 2004). The purpose of this study was to determine the potential therapeutic effects of topical levobunolol 0.5% on reduction of the intraocular pressure (IOP) of clinically healthy dogs, as recent studies have demonstrated in cats (Ribeiro et al. 2007), and the side effects on lowering pulse rate (PR), in order to evaluate its usefulness in dogs.