Intraocular pressure effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors in primary open-angle glaucoma

We tested the effect on intraocular pressure of three commonly used oral carbonic anhydrase inhibitor preparations in a controlled, randomized, comparative study on patients with primary open-angle glaucoma. Preparations tested included acetazolamide tablets, acetazolamide Sequels, and methazolamide tablets. The effect of the three carbonic anhydrase inhibitors was assessed by using a statistical modeling approach as well as by evaluating the average maximum reduction in intraocular pressure for each preparation. Dosage and time effects were also determined. As expected, each drug preparation was more effective in reducing intraocular pressure when administered to a patient who had already been treated with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor preparation. The amount of intraocular pressure lowering was directly related to dose for both acetazolamide preparations. Of particular interest was the finding that maximal rapid reduction of intraocular pressure was obtained with a 500-mg dosage of acetazolamide tablets.