Prophylactic use of apraclonidine for intraocular pressure increase after Nd:YAG capsulotomies.
We evaluated the prophylactic effect of 1% apraclonidine HCl in controlling the increase in intraocular pressure after Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy in a large, multicenter double-masked clinical trial. One hundred sixty-four patients were enrolled into the apraclonidine-treated group, and 165 into the vehicle-treated group. The incidence of increase in intraocular pressure (greater than 5 mm Hg) in the apraclonidine-treated group (7%, 11 of 163 patients) was significantly less than that in the vehicle-treated group (39%, 64 of 164 patients). Similarly, the mean maximal change in intraocular pressure in the apraclonidine-treated group (1.3-mm Hg decrease) was significantly different from the increase in the vehicle-treated group (5.3-mm Hg increase). Few adverse reactions were observed. The risk for significant loss of visual function after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy, combined with the efficacy and relative safety of prophylactic apraclonidine, suggest its addition to the treatment armamentarium.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
D E
DE
Silverstone
S F
SF
Brint
K W
KW
Olander
R B
RB
Taylor
G R
GR
McCarty
J M
JM
deFaller
L L
LL
Burk
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000368:Aged; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003000:Clonidine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010919:Placebos; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D010919:Placebos; C016986:apraclonidine; D003000:Clonidine