Ocular hyperuricosis in the rabbit following hyperuricemia and topical epinephrine

Sources for the high levels of uric acid reported in the aqueous humor from human glaucoma eyes were studied in the rabbit model. A hyperuricemia was produced by oxonic acid blockade of uricase prior to a systemic administration of uric acid. These animals showed no increase in aqueous humor uric acid. Topical medication of eyes with 1% epinephrine produced a statistically significant (P less than 0.001) rise in the level of uric acid in aqueous humor of treated eyes. Mean urate levels increased from 0.44 mg/dl to 0.82 mg/dl. Topical glaucoma medication appears to be the source of ocular hyperuricosis.