USE OF DIISOPROPYL FLUOROPHOSPHATE ("DFP") IN TREATMENT OF GLAUCOMA

Abstract

DIISOPROPYL fluorophosphate ("DFP") has been shown to have a marked and prolonged miotic effect in normal men and animals.¹The miosis may be accompanied with spasm of accommodation and ciliary pain.²These effects have been shown to be due entirely to the inactivation of cholinesterase and not to direct action on the iris and ciliary muscle.³In this respect "DFP" is similar to physostigmine⁴and neostigmine,⁵but in its reaction with cholinesterase it is at least five and a half times as potent and much more persistent than physostigmine.⁶"DFP" can also overcome the effects of atropine and homatropine on the pupil and ciliary muscle.³Finally, "DFP" has been shown to resemble physostigmine in its influence on the intraocular tension of normal human eyes,^1hdiffering, however, in that its effect is much more prolonged. Occasional normal human eyes show a rise in