[Changes in intraocular pressure in anesthesia induced with althesin and maintained with methoxyflurane]

Intraocular pressure and arterial blood pressure were studied in 27 patients undergoing anaesthesia induced by 0,6-1 mg/kg of Althesin iv and maintained by methoxyflurane-N2O-O2 on spontaneous ventilation. All patients were scheduled to undergo various types of eye surgery, including open-eye surgery. Patients with glaucoma and cataract were administered 20% mannitol two hours prior to surgery. In all cases premedication was based on meperidine, promethazine and atropine sulphate im. During the entire period of anaesthesia the intraocular pressure and, generally, arterial blood pressure appeared to be lowered.