0
May 1979, Vol 97, No. 5 >
ARTICLE | May 1979

The Effect of Phenylephrine on the Cornea FREE

Henry F. Edelhauser, PhD; James E. Hine, MD; Harlan Pederson, MS; Diane L. Van Horn, PhD; Richard O. Schultz, MD
[+] Author Affiliations

Accepted for publication July 3, 1978.

Reprint requests to Medical College of Wisconsin, PO Box 26509, Milwaukee, WI 53226 (Dr Edelhauser).


Arch Ophthalmol. 1979;97(5):937-947. doi:10.1001/archopht.1979.01020010495025
Text Size: A A A
Published online
Article
References
Comments

• Rabbit corneas were treated with three drops of phenylephrine hydrochloride with the epithelium intact or denuded. Corneal thickness was measured before and after drug treatment, and at various times after treatment the corneas were fixed for scanning and transmission electron microscopic observation. The results of this study show that phenylephrine caused a dramatic increase in corneal thickness (drug-induced edema) and cellular vacuolation within the keratocytes and endothelial cells in the corneas without the epithelium. Corneal thickness did not change and the ultrastructural changes were minimal following drug application in those corneas with the epithelium intact. Results of this study also suggest that phenylephrine has a cytotoxic effect on the corneal endothelium and keratocytes when used in corneas where the epithelium has been removed. In corneas with intact epithelium, the damage was less severe and limited to the epithelium.

REFERENCES

1 +
Lansche RK:  Systemic reactions to topical epinephrine and phenylephrine . Am J Ophthalmol 61:95-98, 1966;.
2 +
McReynolds WV, Havener WH, Henderson JW:  Hazards of the use of sympathomimetic drugs in ophthalmology . Arch Ophthalmol 56:176-179, 1956;.
3 +
Solosko D, Smith RB:  Hypertension following 10% phenylephrine ophthalmic . Anesthesiology 36:187-189, 1972;.
4 +
Wilensky JT, Woodward HJ:  Acute systemic hypertension after conjunctival installation of phenylephrine hydrochloride . Am J Ophthalmol 76:156-157, 1973;.
5 +
Haddad NJ, Mayer NJ, Riley FC:  Mydriatic effect of phenylephrine hydrochloride . Am J Ophthalmol 70:729-733, 1970;.
6 +
Brian Smith R, Read S, Oczypok PM:  Mydriatic effect of phenylephrine . Eye Ear Nose Throat Monthly 55:133-134, 1976;.
7 +
 Case reports , in National Drug Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects . Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1978;.
8 +
Machemer R: Vitrectomy—A Pars Plana Approach , Machemer R, Benson WE (eds). New York, Grune & Stratton, 1975;, p 51.
9 +
Mishima S, Hedbys BO:  Measurement of corneal thickness with the Haag-Streit pachometer . Arch Ophthalmol 80:710-713, 1968;.
10 +
Cleveland PH, Schneider CW:  A simple method of preserving tissue for scanning electron microscopy . Vision Res 9:1401-1402, 1969;.
11 +
Pfister RR, Burstein N:  Effects of ophthalmic drugs, vehicles and preservatives on corneal epithelial surface: Scanning electron microscope study . Invest Ophthalmol 15:246-259, 1976;.
12 +
Hull DS, Hine JE, Edelhauser HF, et al:  Permeability of the isolated rabbit cornea to corticosteroids . Invest Ophthalmol 13:457-459, 1974;.
13 +
O'Brien WJ, Edelhauser HF:  The corneal penetration of ionfluorothymidine, adenine arabinoside, and idoxuridine: A comparative study . Invest Ophthalmol 16:1093-1103, 1977;.
14 +
Millard BJ, Priaulx DJ, Shatton E:  The stability of aqueous solutions of phenylephrine at elevated temperatures: Identification of the decomposition products . J Pharm Pharmacol 25( (suppl) ):24-31, 1973;.
15 +
Janigan DT, Santamaria A:  A histochemical study of swelling and vacuolation of proximal tubular cells in sucrose nephrosis in the rat . Am J Pathol 39:175-185, 1961;.
16 +
Shabo AL, Maxwell DS, Kreiger AE:  Structural alterations in the ciliary process and the blood-aqueous barrier of the monkey after systemic urea injections . Am J Ophthalmol 81:162-172, 1976;.
17 +
Geroski DH, Edelhauser HF:  Corneal metabolism: Endothelial response to epithelial scraping, topical anesthesia, and phenylephrine . Invest Ophthalmol 17( (suppl) ):211, 1978;.
18 +
Hyndiuk RA, Kazarian EL, Seidman S:  Neurotropic corneal ulcers in diabetes mellitus . Arch Ophthalmol 95:2193-2196, 1977;.
19 +
Cable MK, Hendrickson RO, Calvin H:  Evaluation of drugs in ointment for mydriasis and cycloplegia . Arch Ophthalmol 96:84-86, 1978;.
20 +
Kaback MB, Podos SM, Harbin TS Jr, et al:  The effects of dipivalyl epinephrine on the eye . Am J Ophthalmol 81:768-772, 1976;.

First Page Preview

First page PDF preview

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Lansche RK:  Systemic reactions to topical epinephrine and phenylephrine . Am J Ophthalmol 61:95-98, 1966;.
2 +
McReynolds WV, Havener WH, Henderson JW:  Hazards of the use of sympathomimetic drugs in ophthalmology . Arch Ophthalmol 56:176-179, 1956;.
3 +
Solosko D, Smith RB:  Hypertension following 10% phenylephrine ophthalmic . Anesthesiology 36:187-189, 1972;.
4 +
Wilensky JT, Woodward HJ:  Acute systemic hypertension after conjunctival installation of phenylephrine hydrochloride . Am J Ophthalmol 76:156-157, 1973;.
5 +
Haddad NJ, Mayer NJ, Riley FC:  Mydriatic effect of phenylephrine hydrochloride . Am J Ophthalmol 70:729-733, 1970;.
6 +
Brian Smith R, Read S, Oczypok PM:  Mydriatic effect of phenylephrine . Eye Ear Nose Throat Monthly 55:133-134, 1976;.
7 +
 Case reports , in National Drug Registry of Drug-Induced Ocular Side Effects . Little Rock, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 1978;.
8 +
Machemer R: Vitrectomy—A Pars Plana Approach , Machemer R, Benson WE (eds). New York, Grune & Stratton, 1975;, p 51.
9 +
Mishima S, Hedbys BO:  Measurement of corneal thickness with the Haag-Streit pachometer . Arch Ophthalmol 80:710-713, 1968;.
10 +
Cleveland PH, Schneider CW:  A simple method of preserving tissue for scanning electron microscopy . Vision Res 9:1401-1402, 1969;.
11 +
Pfister RR, Burstein N:  Effects of ophthalmic drugs, vehicles and preservatives on corneal epithelial surface: Scanning electron microscope study . Invest Ophthalmol 15:246-259, 1976;.
12 +
Hull DS, Hine JE, Edelhauser HF, et al:  Permeability of the isolated rabbit cornea to corticosteroids . Invest Ophthalmol 13:457-459, 1974;.
13 +
O'Brien WJ, Edelhauser HF:  The corneal penetration of ionfluorothymidine, adenine arabinoside, and idoxuridine: A comparative study . Invest Ophthalmol 16:1093-1103, 1977;.
14 +
Millard BJ, Priaulx DJ, Shatton E:  The stability of aqueous solutions of phenylephrine at elevated temperatures: Identification of the decomposition products . J Pharm Pharmacol 25( (suppl) ):24-31, 1973;.
15 +
Janigan DT, Santamaria A:  A histochemical study of swelling and vacuolation of proximal tubular cells in sucrose nephrosis in the rat . Am J Pathol 39:175-185, 1961;.
16 +
Shabo AL, Maxwell DS, Kreiger AE:  Structural alterations in the ciliary process and the blood-aqueous barrier of the monkey after systemic urea injections . Am J Ophthalmol 81:162-172, 1976;.
17 +
Geroski DH, Edelhauser HF:  Corneal metabolism: Endothelial response to epithelial scraping, topical anesthesia, and phenylephrine . Invest Ophthalmol 17( (suppl) ):211, 1978;.
18 +
Hyndiuk RA, Kazarian EL, Seidman S:  Neurotropic corneal ulcers in diabetes mellitus . Arch Ophthalmol 95:2193-2196, 1977;.
19 +
Cable MK, Hendrickson RO, Calvin H:  Evaluation of drugs in ointment for mydriasis and cycloplegia . Arch Ophthalmol 96:84-86, 1978;.
20 +
Kaback MB, Podos SM, Harbin TS Jr, et al:  The effects of dipivalyl epinephrine on the eye . Am J Ophthalmol 81:768-772, 1976;.

Correspondence

Submit a Letter
CME Course for:


You need to register in order to view this quiz.


To understand the clinical management of acute heart failure syndromes.
Accreditation Information The American Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The AMA designates this journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM per course. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Physicians who complete the CME course and score at least 80% correct on the quiz are eligible for AMA PRA Category 1 CreditTM.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
Note: You must get at least of the answers correct to pass this quiz.
You have not filled in all the answers to complete this quiz
The following questions were not answered:
Sorry, you have unsuccessfully completed this CME quiz with a score of
The following questions were not answered correctly:
For CME Course: A Proposed Model for Initial Assessment and Management of Acute Heart Failure Syndromes
Indicate what changes(s) you will implement in your practice, if any, based on this CME course.
To view and print your certificate and access a summary of your CME courses go to My CME.
NOTE:
Citing articles are presented as examples only. In non-demo SCM6 implementation, integration with CrossRef’s “Cited By” API will populate this tab (http://www.crossref.org/citedby.html).
Compression-Only CPR: Pushing the Science Forward
Cone
AAM 2010;304:1493-1495.
All you need to read in the other general journals
BMJ 2010;341:c5893-c1494.
Submit a Comment

Some tools below are only available to our subscribers or users with an online account.

Related Content

Customize your page view by dragging & repositioning the boxes below.

© 2012 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved.
Powered bySilverchair Information Systems