The effect of apraclonidine on the intraocular pressure of glaucoma patients following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.
We retrospectively compared the incidence and level of postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes in 53 consecutive glaucoma patients undergoing Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy (YPC) who received apraclonidine immediately postoperatively, with those occurring in 22 consecutive similar patients who did not receive apraclonidine. Postoperative IOP elevations of 5 mm Hg or more occurred in 13% of the apraclonidine recipients and in 59% of the nonrecipients; elevations of 10 mm Hg or more occurred in 4% of the former and in 27% of the latter. Our results suggest that apraclonidine can be a useful adjunct in preventing IOP elevations following YPC in glaucoma patients.
Cullom
R D
RD
Glaucoma Service, Wills Eye Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. 19107.
Schwartz
L W
LW
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D007903:Lens Capsule, Crystalline / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; C016986:apraclonidine; D003000:Clonidine