Time course of changes in aqueous protein concentration and flow rate after oral acetazolamide

The coefficient of plasma protein entry into the aqueous humor, kin, was calculated in the human eyes from the aqueous protein concentration measured with a flare-cell meter and from the aqueous flow rate determined with fluorophotometry. The value of kin averaged 3.47 +/- 0.25 x 10(-5) min-1 (mean +/- SEM) in 12 eyes of six normal young volunteers. The time course of changes in aqueous protein concentration after oral administration of 500 mg acetazolamide was measured with a flare-cell meter in 24 eyes of 12 subjects. Aqueous protein concentration significantly increased from 2-10 hr postadministration with a maximum increase of 41 +/- 7% (mean +/- SEM) at 6 hr postadministration. Assuming that kin is not affected by the drug treatment, we calculated the time change of aqueous flow rate from that of aqueous protein concentration using the value of kin above. The calculated flow rate after the administration of acetazolamide decreased between 1.25 and 8 hr, with a maximum reduction of 40 +/- 11% at 1.75 hr postadministration. These measurements obtained with the flare-cell meter corresponded well to those obtained by fluorophotometry in a separate group of volunteers given the same treatment. It was shown that oral acetazolamide increases aqueous protein concentration, and that the time change of its effect on aqueous flow rate can be monitored by measuring aqueous protein concentration.