The effects of intravenous romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal horses and horses with incidental ophthalmic findings.
Abstract: Original study. Objective: To evaluate the effect of sedation with romifidine hydrochloride 1% (Sedivet: Boehringer-Ingelheim) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in the normal horse and horses with incidental ophthalmic findings as measured by applanation tonometry. Methods: Nineteen clinically normal horses (13 geldings, six mares) and eight horses (three geldings, five mares) with incidental ophthalmic findings were included in this study. Methods: All horses underwent complete ophthalmic examination with pharmacologic mydriasis a minimum of 2 weeks prior to IOP evaluation. Baseline intraocular pressure values were obtained following auriculopalpebral nerve block and topical anesthetic. Immediately thereafter, romifidine was administered intravenously (75 µg/kg) and the IOP recorded at 5, 15, 30, 45 and 60 min postsedation in both eyes. Five successive readings were obtained at each time point, the low and high value discarded, and three remaining readings averaged for a mean. Results: The changes with time were consistent between eyes and OD and OS results were pooled. The mean IOP at baseline was 26.35 ± 5.57 mmHg. Mean IOP values were significantly lower than baseline at 5 (P < 0.0001), 15 (P < 0.0001), 30 (P = 0.0003), 45 (P < 0.0001) and 60 (P = 0.0005) minutes. The largest change from baseline (16.7%) was noted at t = 15 min. Conclusions: Administration of romifidine significantly decreased the IOP from baseline at all time points measured. The greatest decline in IOP was noted at 15 min postsedation. Results are consistent with other studies noting a decline in IOP with administration of α-2 agonists.
© 2014 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2014-05-02 PubMed ID: 24787635DOI: 10.1111/vop.12172Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The study investigates the impact of a sedative, romifidine, on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy horses and those with incidental eye issues. The findings suggest that romifidine significantly reduces IOP at all time points observed, with the major drop seen 15 minutes after sedation.
Overview of the Study
- This research looked at the effects of romifidine, a sedative, on intraocular pressure (IOP) in healthy horses and those with undiagnosed eye conditions. The IOP relates to the fluid pressure within the eye, and an abnormal IOP could indicate conditions like glaucoma.
- The experiment involved nineteen clinically normal horses and eight horses with unidentified eye problems. A total of 13 geldings and six mares were categorized as healthy, while three geldings and five mares had incidental ophthalmic findings.
Methods
- All the horses underwent a comprehensive eye examination, including a pharmacologic mydriasis, a process that dilates the pupils for examination, at least two weeks prior to measuring the IOP.
- The IOP study involved an auriculopalpebral nerve block and a topical anesthetic, after which baseline IOP values were measured. Immediately following this, the horses were given an intravenous dose of romifidine.
- The IOP was then recorded at intervals of 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-sedation in both eyes. At each time point, five readings were taken. The highest and lowest values were discarded, and the remaining three were averaged to obtain a mean IOP.
Results
- The results showed a consistent decrease in intraocular pressure over time in both eyes. The average IOP at the baseline was 26.35 ± 5.57 mmHg, which saw a significant drop at all the recorded times post-sedation.
- The most prominent decline (16.7%) was recorded 15 minutes post-sedation.
Conclusions
- The study concluded that the administration of romifidine considerably reduced the intraocular pressure, with the greatest decline seen 15 minutes after the sedation.
- This decrease in IOP after romifidine administration is consistent with other studies that reported a similar fall in IOP following the use of alpha-2 agonists, a class of drugs to which romifidine belongs.
Cite This Article
APA
Stine JM, Michau TM, Williams MK, Kuebelbeck KL, Stengard ME.
(2014).
The effects of intravenous romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically normal horses and horses with incidental ophthalmic findings.
Vet Ophthalmol, 17 Suppl 1, 134-139.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vop.12172 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- BluePearl Veterinary Partners, Tampa, FL, 33614, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Deep Sedation / methods
- Deep Sedation / veterinary
- Eye Diseases / diagnosis
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
- Imidazoles / administration & dosage
- Imidazoles / pharmacology
- Injections, Intravenous / veterinary
- Intraocular Pressure / drug effects
- Male
- Tonometry, Ocular / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Allen R, Goodhead AD. A survey of ocular pathology in Warmblood horses in South Africa. Equine Vet J 2025 Jul;57(4):889-897.
- Preston JF, Mustikka MP, Priestnall SL, Dunkel B, Fischer MC. Clinical features and outcomes of horses presenting with presumed equine immune mediated keratitis to two veterinary hospitals in the United Kingdom and Finland: 94 cases (2009-2021). Equine Vet J 2025 May;57(3):598-610.
- Mustikka MP, Pietilä EM, Mykkänen AK, Grönthal TSC. Comparison of two rebound tonometers in healthy horses. Vet Ophthalmol 2020 Sep;23(5):892-898.
- Rizk A, Nocera I, Briganti A, Abouelnasr K, El-Khodery S, Tagawa M, Bonelli F. Dose-dependent effect of romifidine on intraocular pressure in clinically healthy buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Heliyon 2019 Dec;5(12):e02930.
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