Effect of Telmisartan on Intra-Ocular Pressure in induced Open Angle Glaucoma in Rabbits

The present study was designed to evaluate the possible intraocular pressure lowering effect of corneal instillation of telmisartan in experimentally corticosteroid induced ocular hypertensive eyes of rabbits, and to explore the possible side effects of the tested drugs on eyes after instillation. Group of (40) adult male of New Zealand rabbits, were divided to 3 groups isotonic buffer group (8 normotensive rabbits), this group was instilled with isotonic buffer solution in the right eye and DW in the left eye to show if there is any effect of the vehicle (isotonic solution) on the eye, timolol group (8 rabbits) were both eyes of this group have been induced for ocular hypertensive, the right eyes instilled with timolol (0.5 %) drop twice daily which considered as a positive control group, while the left eyes instilled with DW twice daily which considered as a negative control group. , telmisartan group (24 rabbits), divided in to (3) subgroups 8 rabbits in each to evaluate the effect of telmisartan (0.25 %, 0.5 %& 1 %) drop that instilled once daily. The present study clearly demonstrated that single drop of telmisartan (0.25 %) able to reduce mean IOP by (2.5 %) in hypertensive rabbits eyes after one day of instillation and the peak mean IOP decline that achieved after 7 days of instillation was (6.25 %). Also the present study clearly demonstrated that single drop of telmisartan (0.5 %) able to reduce mean IOP by (2.8 %) in hypertensive rabbits eyes after one hour of instillation and peak mean IOP decline achieved after 7 days of instillation was (11.83 %). Telmisartan (1 %) clearly reduced mean IOP by (12 %) in hypertensive rabbits eyes after one day of instillation and peak mean IOP decline achieved after 7 days of instillation (20.33 %).