title: Effect of sedation with detomidine on intraocular pressure with and without topical anesthesia in clinically normal horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of sedation with detomidine on intraocular pressure (IOP) in standing horses and whether topical ocular application of anesthetic alters this effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 clinically normal horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses were assigned to group 1 (n = 7) or 2 (8). Intraocular pressure measurements were obtained at baseline (before sedation) and 10 minutes after IV administration of detomidine (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb]). Group 1 horses had an additional IOP measurement at 20 minutes after sedation. For group 2 horses, topical ocular anesthetic was administered 10 minutes prior to baseline IOP measurements.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD baseline IOP for horses without topical anesthesia (group 1 horses; IOP, 24.30 ± 3.09 mm Hg) was significantly lower, compared with that of horses with topical anesthesia (group 2 horses; IOP, 30.40 ± 3.25 mm Hg). Compared with baseline values, IOP at 10 minutes after sedation decreased significantly in all horses (by 3.61 ± 1.48 mm Hg and 5.78 ± 4.32 mm Hg in groups 1 and 2, respectively). In group 1 horses, IOP at 10 (20.69 ± 3.45 mm Hg) and 20 (19.96 ± 2.13 mm Hg) minutes after sedation was significantly decreased, compared with baseline values; however, the difference between IOP at 10 versus 20 minutes was not significant. The difference in IOP between group 1 and 2 horses at 10 minutes after sedation was not significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IV administration of detomidine caused a decrease in IOP in clinically normal horses and may be a safe sedative when performing ocular procedures.
authors.affiliation: Eye Care for Animals, Tustin, CA 92780, USA. danaholve@gmail.com
authors.forename: Dana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Holve
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; C041255:detomidine