The ocular hypotensive effect of the topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor L-671,152 in glaucomatous monkeys.

L-671,152, a new potent water-soluble inhibitor of human carbonic anhydrase II in vitro, was applied topically to cynomolgus monkey eyes in which glaucoma had been produced by argon laser photocoagulation of the trabecular mesh-work. Intraocular pressure was measured at 0 hours, 0.5 hours, and hourly for 8 hours in eight eyes for 2 baseline days, 1 day receiving the vehicle and 5 days receiving therapy with 2% L-671,152 twice a day, after initial single-dose trials of various concentrations. Intraocular pressure was not significantly different comparing baseline and vehicle-treated days. Significant intraocular pressure reductions occurred from 1 to 8 hours after the first dose, and lasted for at least 16 hours after the second dose. The reduction in intraocular pressure became more pronounced from day 1 to day 5 at each time interval. The mean (+/- SEM) maximum reduction in intraocular pressure was 7.8 +/- 2.1 mm Hg on day 1 and 10.1 +/- 2.4 mm Hg on day 5 at 3 hours after administration, comparing the intraocular pressure in drug-treated and vehicle-treated eyes. L-671,152 has a longer duration of action than does previously studied MK-927 in glaucomatous monkeys. It appears to have great clinical potential.