[Effect of muscle relaxants on intraocular pressure]

Since general anesthesia is being used increasingly in ophthalmic surgery, the effects of anesthetic drugs on intraocular pressure (IOP) have to be considered. Competitive neuromuscular blocking drugs either do not affect IOP or produce a slight decrease. Depolarizing muscle relaxants increase IOP. This effect, which is pronounced with succinylcholine, cannot be reliably prevented by any concomitant medication. The new competitive relaxants atracurium and vecuronium provide stable conditions with respect to IOP and systemic circulation, combined with fast onset and intermediate duration of action.