The Influence of Epinephrine and Phenylephrine on Intraocular Pressure

The use of epinephrine and phenylephrine in the management of open-angle glaucoma is well known to ophthalmologists. Reports of clinical investigations on the influence of epinephrine and phenlyephrine on the intraocular pressure have frequently appeared in the international literature.1-5Thus far, none of these reports have mentioned that a significant rise in intraocular pressure could occur in open-angle glaucoma after the topical application of epinephrine or phenylephrine. We have found three patients in whom the pressure actually rose although the angles remained wide and open. The purpose of this paper is to present information concerning the various effects (on intraocular pressure, facility of aqueous outflow, and rate of flow) of epinephrine and phenylephrine topically applied to glaucomatous and to normal eyes. Procedures and Materials The effects of epinephrine and phenylephrine individually were examined in 19 patients. Twelve had open-angle glaucoma, and seven were normal controls. Seven of the twelve