Direct Measurement of Intraocular Pressure in the Rat

Abstract

A method has been developed for measurement of the intraocular pressure (IOP) in the rat by means of cannulation of the anterior chamber. A special rat-holding table permitted precise positioning of the needle into the anterior chamber without damaging the surrounding structures. A pneumatic needle gun was used to introduce the needle into the anterior chamber with minimum deformation of the cornea. The dose-response effects of formalin and prostaglandin E¹ (PGE₁) on IOP were determined after instillation into the conjunctival sac.