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.
Silverstone
D E
DE
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
Brint
S F
SF
Olander
K W
KW
Taylor
R B
RB
McCarty
G R
GR
deFaller
J M
JM
Burk
L L
LL
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