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

ABSTRACT

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.