Effect of mivacurium and atracurium on intraocular pressure

We investigated the effects on intraocular pressure of relaxation with miva curium or atracurium in a prospective, randomized, double-blind examination of 30 hemodynamically and respiratorically stable patients. To exclude dis ruptive factors the patients were all intubated and continously sedated. As active agent the patients were given a bolus of mivacurium (0.15 mg/kg) or atracurium (0.5 mg/kg) which equals the dose of intubation (2 x ED95). The IOP was controlled before giving the bolus as well as after one, five, ten and 30 minutes. Our data showed that both mivacurium and atracurium decrea sed IOP, The greatest decrease was reached after five minutes. The influenc e of mivacurium was significantly greater than that of atracurium. We concl ude that mivacurium is a useful drug in clinical situations in which decrea sed intraocular pressure is desired.