EFFECT OF DIISOPROPYL FLUOROPHOSPHATE ("DFP") ON THE NORMAL EYE

Abstract

DURING the past few years many investigators¹have studied the physiologic and pathologic effects of the fluorophosphates. Of these, the diisopropyl derivative ("DFP") has received most attention. It has been shown to be a powerful inhibitor of cholinesterase²and therefore has pronounced parasympathomimetic and nicotinic actions. It is much more potent than physostigmine in these respects. In the eye, "DFP" has been shown to produce prolonged and marked miosis, spasm of the ciliary muscle, false myopia and decrease in intraocular tension.³The ocular effects of "DFP" far outlast those produced by other known miotic agents. For example, miosis was found to last two days in the rabbit,⁴ten days to two months in the cat⁵and three to nine days^3aand fourteen to twenty-seven days^3bin man. The spasm of the ciliary muscle has been found to last three to seven days in