Esthesiometric evaluation of corneal analgesia after topical application of 1% morphine sulfate in normal horses.

Abstract

To evaluate whether topical ocular application of 1% morphine sulfate would change corneal sensitivity and to identify the duration of action. Eight healthy adult horses. Corneal touch threshold (CTT) was measured in the center of one randomly selected eye of each horse by Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer (Luneau Cochet-Bonnet Esthesiometer; Western Ophthalmics, Lynnwood, WA, USA). Immediately following baseline CTT measurement, 0.3ml of 1.0% preservative-free morphine sulfate (Morphine Sulfate 25mg/ml Preservative-free; Hospira, Lake Forest, IL, USA) (3mg) was applied to the tested eye. The same volume of artificial tear (LiquiTears; Major Pharmacauticals, Livonia, MI, USA) solution was then applied to the control eye following acquisition of baseline CTT. Corneal touch threshold was then subsequently measured at 1min after medication application, followed by every 5min until 60min post administration. If the corneal touch threshold had not returned to baseline by 60min, measurements were continued at 15-min intervals until corneal sensitivity returned to baseline CTT measurement up to 180min post administration if needed. The control eye was treated identically and measurements on the control eye stopped when the corresponding treated eye returned to baseline. Mean baseline CTT of both eyes was 21.8mm with an identical range of 15-30mm. Mean corneal touch threshold was not statistically different between morphine-treated and control eyes (P=0.22). There was a large degree of inter- and intrasubject variation in the CTT measurements obtained. All but three horses were considered to be at baseline values by 60min. Topical ophthalmic 1% morphine sulfate did not have a clinically significant analgesic effect on the corneal touch threshold of intact healthy equine corneas.