[Effect of acetazolamide on aqueous flare in normal human eyes]

A newly developed instrument for the quantitative measurement of aqueous flare, the laser flare-cell meter, is now being introduced clinically. The present experiment was designed to assess the effect of a commonly administered drug, acetazolamide, on measurements obtained in normal, healthy subjects. Control measurements were taken over a 24 hr period, from 0900 hrs to 0900 hrs of the next day in 12 drug-free, normal, healthy subjects. A second, similar time-course measurement was conducted in the same subjects on another day after oral administration of 500 mg acetazolamide. Results revealed that acetazolamide increased aqueous flare from 2 hrs to 10 hrs post-administration. The peak effect was observed approximately 6 hrs after acetazolamide administration, reaching a level 41% greater than that on the control day. Anterior chamber volume and serum protein concentration were not affected by the drug treatment. The use of the laser flare-cell meter in the clinic and possible mechanisms contributing to the effect of the drug are discussed.