Effect of pentoxifylline in treatment of induced ocular hypertension in rabbits

In glaucoma, as optic neuropathy gradually proceeds unnoticed by the patient, early detection and treatment is of paramount importance in arresting or controlling the progress of damage.

To explore effects of topical pentoxifylline on intraocular pressure (IOP) ocular hypertensive eyes of rabbits.

A group of 36 males of the rabbits were included in this study. Induction of ocular hypertension was achieved by injection of hydroxy propyl methylcellulose in the anterior chamber of rabbits right eye. The present study was designed to evaluate the possible beneficial therapeutic effect. The included rabbits were divided into distilled water group, timolol (0.25% and 0.5%) groups, and pentoxifylline (0.25% and 0.5%). Each of drug eye drops (including distilled water) were instilled into right eyes 3 times/day for 10 days therapeutically. The rabbits had been examined for the IOP, pupil diameter, light reflex, corneal reflex, and conjunctival redness prior to instillation of drugs and along the trial period.

Results: Ocular hypotensive effects of pentoxifylline (0.25%) and (0.5%) eye drops were more efficient than that of distilled water (P<0.01). Furthermore, pentoxifylline eye drop was effective like timolol eye drop (P>0.05) in its ocular hypotensive effect in both concentrations along the trial period.

In both parts of the present study and regarding each of mean pupil diameter, light reflex, corneal reflex and conjunctival redness, pentoxifylline (0.25% or 0.5%) eye drops had no significant adverse effect (P > 0.05).

Conclusions: Pentoxifylline eye drops instilled 3 times / day had an obvious beneficial, safe, and tolerable therapeutic ocular hypotensive effects on hydroxy propyl methyl cellulose - induced ocular hypertension in rabbits.