The intraocular pressure-lowering properties of intravenous paracetamol

AIM: The aim of this paper was to investigate the intraocular pressure (IOP)-changing properties of a single standard dose of intravenous (IV) paracetamol and compare it to that of topical timolol, oral acetazolamide, and no treatment. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, investigator-blind, parallel-group study was conducted in 73 eyes of 52 subjects. Subjects received a single dose of IV paracetamol (1 g), oral acetazolamide (250 mg), topical timolol (0.5%, one drop), or no treatment. Baseline IOP was measured, and the measurement was repeated at 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours after treatment. RESULTS: Paracetamol reduced IOP from baseline by −10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI]: −4.9% to −16.8%, P=0.146) at 1 hour, −13.3% (95% CI: −8.3% to −18.4%, P=0.045) at 2 hours, −11.8% (95% CI: −5.5% to −18.4%, P=1.000) at 4 hours, and −23.9% (95% CI: −17.8% to −30.1%, P=0.006) at 6 hours after treatment. In the no-treatment group, the change was −2.9% (95% CI: +1.0% to −6.7%, P= referent) at 1 hour, −2.1% (95% CI: +2.9% to −7.2%, P= referent) at 2 hours, −7.6% (95% CI: −3.9% to −11.2%, P= referent) at 4 hours, and −6.9% (95% CI: −3.6% to −10.2%, P= referent) at 6 hours. Acetazolamide reduced IOP by −18.8% (95% CI: −12.7% to −24.8%, P=0.000) at 1 hour, −26.2% (95% CI: −18.2% to −34.2%, P=0.001) at 2 hours, −24.6% (95% CI: −16.9% to −32.3%, P=0.000) after 4 hours, and −26.9% (95% CI: −19.6% to −34.3%, P=0.000) 6 hours after treatment. Timolol reduced IOP by −31.2% (95% CI: −26.7% to −35.7%, P=0.000) at 1 hour, −27.7% (95% CI: −20.7% to −34.8%, P=0.000) at 2 hours, −28.7% (95% CI: −21.1% to −36.2%, P=0.000) at 4 hours, and −21.3% (95% CI: −13.4% to −30.0%, P=0.030) at 6 hours after treatment. The average change in IOP for the no-treatment group was −4.8% (95% CI: −2.6% to −6.9%, P= referent). It was −15.7% (95% CI: −9.3% to −22.1%, P=0.021) for paracetamol, −23.1% (95% CI: −16.4% to −29.8%, P=0.000) for acetazolamide, and −25.3% for the timolol group (95% CI: −19.4% to −31.2%, P=0.000). The maximal change in IOP for the no-treatment group was −9.2% (95% CI: −3.2% to −15.3%, P= referent). It was −25.9% (95% CI: −16.6% to −35.2%, P=0.009) for paracetamol, −33.8% (95% CI: −25.5% to −42.1%, P=0.000) for acetazolamide, and −36.8% (95% CI: −31.0% to −42.5%, P=0.000) for the timolol group. CONCLUSION: Intravenously administered paracetamol shows IOP-lowering properties over the first 6 hours after administration. Clinicians performing IOP measurements in patients who have received IV paracetamol in the preceding 6 hours should interpret these measurements with caution. Further studies are needed to investigate the IOP-changing properties of paracetamol.