Comparison of the ocular hypotensive efficacy of eicosanoids and related compounds.

It has recently been shown that prostaglandin (PG)E2 or F2 alpha reduces the intraocular pressure (IOP) of cats and primates when applied topically to the eye in very small doses, and that reduced IOP can be maintained in these species as long as the topical application of one of these PGs is repeated daily or twice daily. In the present study the ocular hypotensive efficacy and some of the ocular side-effects of 15 eicosanoids and related compounds, especially derivatives of PGF2 alpha, were compared and were also compared to some clinically used ocular hypotensive agents. Derivatives of PGF2 alpha were found that had short-term and long-term ocular hypotensive potencies some 10- to 50-fold greater than PGF2 alpha itself.