ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To measure and compare the effect of apraclonidine hydrochloride and brimonidine tartrate on the rate of aqueous humor flow in human subjects. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty normal human subjects were given apraclonidine or brimonidine by topical instillation. Aqueous humor flow was measured by the rate of disappearance of topically applied fluorescein. Intraocular pressure was measured by applanation tonometry. RESULTS: Apraclonidine suppressed aqueous humor flow between 39% and 44% and lowered intraocular pressure between 20% and 23%. Brimonidine suppressed aqueous humor flow between 44% and 48% and lowered intraocular pressure between 19% and 22%. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant differences were found between the effects of the 2 drugs on aqueous humor dynamics in normal subjects.
