Evaluation on Clinical Application of Osmotic Pump with Dorzolamide in Normal Dogs

This study was designed to compare the effects of continuous release of an anti-glaucoma drug applied by an osmotic pump and by conventional eye drop instillation in normal beagle dogs, by measuring drug concentration in the blood and monitoring intra-ocular pressure (IOP). In group 1, an osmotic pump filled with Trusopt® was implanted subcutaneously over the right eye of each dog and the IOP was measured. In group 2, the right eye of each dog was administered with 2% dorzolamide (Trusopt®, Merck, USA) three times per day. Blood was sampled once per week in all groups. The IOP of the end of this study was 16.7 ± 0.58 mmHg in group 2 and 17.7 ± 2.52 mmHg in group 2. Dorzolamide concentration in blood increased continuously over 4 weeks up to 585.8 ± 79.42 ㎍/L in group 1, and 747.3 ± 27.89 ㎍/L in group 2. We achieved satisfactory results in the osmotic pump group, which had a similar effect on IOP, and low fluctuations in IOP. Therefore, the results of this study should allow osmotic pumps to be consider as an alternative method to eye drops for the effective, safe, and convenient treatment of glaucoma.