A Method for Measuring Intraocular Pressure in Anesthetized Rats Using a Simple Tonometer

Abstract

A method was established for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) in anesthetized rats using a clinical hand aplanation tonometer. In order to determine whether this procedure could be used to assess an increase in IOP, an attempt was made to measure the increase in IOP induced experimentally by loading 5% glucose solution and administering dexamethazone eye drops. with this method we were able to measure an increase in IOP induced by either dexamethazone or glucose loading over a time course. IOP data in non-treated rats obtained earlier in our laboratory were used for background data as well. The deviation in the IOP background data was comparatively small, and the mean IOP was 18.9 mmHg in males and 18.3 mmHg in females. We concluded that this is an easy measurement method that provides a precise and useful index for the increase in IOP for drug safety research by comparing the control data.