Clinical experience with apraclonidine 0.5%.
OBJECTIVE
This study describes our long-term experience with apraclonidine 0.5% in the treatment of chronic glaucoma in clinical practice.


METHODS
A retrospective review was performed of all consecutive patients treated with apraclonidine 0.5%, specifically studying the magnitude of IOP reduction, incidence of allergic reaction, frequency of ineffectiveness, and its additivity to other anti-glaucoma medications. Patients previously treated with this agent or in whom multiple simultaneous medication changes were made were excluded.


RESULTS
A total of 174 patients were included in this study and followed up to 24 months. For 38 patients (21%), the drug was found to be ineffective at some point during the study. A similar number of patients developed an allergic reaction to the medication. Intraocular pressure lowering ranged from 19 to 26% overall, and 22.5 to 29% in those responding to apraclonidine 0.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
In this study, apraclonidine 0.5% was shown to be effective in reducing intraocular pressure, both for short-term situations and for longer periods of treatment, up to 24 months.
Gross
R L
RL
Cullen Eye Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.
Pinyero
A
A
Orengo-Nania
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D005123:Eye / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; C016986:apraclonidine; D003000:Clonidine