Influence of cataleptoid anaesthetic agents on the intraocular pressure in monkeys (Macaca fascicularis).

Trained monkeys which allowed a tonometry while conscious were used to test the influence of cataleptoid anaesthetics on intraocular pressure (IOP). The drugs were injected intramuscularly in two dosages: with the lower dose (DT) it became just possible to perform a tonometry in untrained monkeys. The second dose (DS) induced surgical anaesthesia. The drugs used were: Phencyclidine, DT: 0.6-0.7 mg/kg, DS: 1.2-1.4 mg/kg. Ketamine, DT: 4-6 mg/kg, DS: 25 mg/kg. CI-744, a combination of a pure cataleptoid anaesthetic (Tiletamine) and a tranquilizer (Zolazepam), DT: 2-3 mg/kg and DS: 7.5 mg/kg. Tonometry was performed prior to and 15 and 30 min after drug administration. Except for phencyclidine in the smaller dose, which had virtually no effect on IOP, the drugs lowered IOP about 10-30% on an average with a large intra- and interindividual scatter.