Brimonidine 0.2% versus Apraclonidine 0.5% for Controlling Intraocular Pressure Elevation after Q-switched Nd:YAG Laser Posterior Capsulotomy

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of 0.2% brimonidine tartrate and that of 0.5% apraclonidine hydrochloride for controlling IOP elevation after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy. METHODS: Thirty eyes were given with 0.2% brimonidine (group 1) and fourteen eyes with 0.5% apraclonidine (group 2) before and after the procedure. Fifteen eyes served as untreated controls (group 3). Intraocular pressure and visual acuity were measured preoperatively and 1 hour, 3 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week postoperatively in all cases. RESULTS: The postoperative mean intraocular pressures of group 3 (14.97+/-3.58, 16.47+/-3.93 mmHg) at 1 hour and 3 hours were statistically significant higher than those of group 1 (11.23+/-3.43, 11.50+/-3.01mmHg), and those of group 2 (10.79+/-3.51, 11.57+/-3.03 mmHg)(p< 0.05), but, there were no statistically significant differences in mean IOP at 1 hour and 3 hours between group 1 and group 2 (P=0.569, P=0.610). At 1 hour and 3 hours, there was no case of IOP elevation of 5 mmHg above baseline in group1 and group 2. but, there were 5 cases (33.3%) at 1 hour and 6 cases (40%) at 3 hours in group 3. CONCLUSIONS: This result suggests that 0.2% brimonidine and 0.5% apraclonidine are equally effective for preventing acute IOP elevation after Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy, that is, 0.2% brimonidine is an effective and well-tolerated agent for preventing acute IOP rises after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.

The Effect of Apraclonidine Hydrochloride 0.5%Ve rsus 1%for Controlling Intraocular Pressure Elevation after Nd :YAG Laser Posterior Capsulotomy

Previous reports have shown that Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy is associated with elevated intraocular pressure(IOP). Topical apraclonidine hydrochloride has been shown to be effective in preventing postlaser pressure spikes. This study was designed to compare the effect of apraclonidine hydrochloride 0.5%versus 1% in controlling IOP elevation after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Fourteen eyes were treated with 0.5%apraclonidine(Group 1), twenty eyes with 1%apraclonidine(Group 2)and fifteen eyes without apra-clonidine(Group 3)in Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. The mean post-operative IOP at 1 to 3 hours of Group 3(15.0+/-3.6 mmHg, 16.0+/-4.3 mmHg) was higher than Group 1(10.8+/-3.5 mmHg, 11.6+/-3.0 mmHg)and Group 2 (11.2+/-3.0 mmHg, 12.7+/-2.3 mmHg)(P0.05). This result suggests that 0.5%and 1%apraclonidine are equally effective in preventing IOP rise and 0.5%apraclonidine can be a useful adjunct in preventing IOP elevation following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.