Verapamil increases outflow facility in the human eye.
Verapamil, a calcium channel antagonist, causes a reduction of intraocular pressure in humans. This study investigated whether verapamil's effect on intraocular pressure was related to increased outflow facility. Six pairs of human eyes were dissected and anterior segments were perfused under constant pressure with concentrations of verapamil HCl ranging from 10(-10)-10(-3) M. The maximal increase of outflow facility over baseline was 64% at 10(-9) M. These results indicate that verapamil causes a dose related increase in outflow facility in human eyes, which may account for the reduced intraocular pressure following topical administration of verapamil.
Erickson
K A
KA
Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA.
Schroeder
A
A
Netland
P A
PA
D000368:Aged; D000869:Anterior Eye Segment / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D014700:Verapamil