Effect of topical brimonidine on intraocular pressure after small incision cataract surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of brimonidine 0.2% on intraocular pressure (IOP) after small incision cataract surgery.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.


METHODS
This prospective randomized study comprised 80 eyes of 40 patients scheduled for small incision cataract surgery in both eyes. In each patient, 1 eye was randomly assigned to receive 1 drop of brimonidine 0.2% or no treatment (control) immediately after surgery. The fellow eye received the other assigned treatment. All patients had standardized surgery by the same surgeon with sodium hyaluronate 1%, a temporal 3.5 mm sutureless posterior limbal incision, phacoemulsification, and implantation of a foldable intraocular lens. The IOP was measured preoperatively as well as 6 and 20 to 24 hours and 1 week postoperatively.


RESULTS
Six hours after surgery, the mean increase in IOP was 4.7 mm Hg +/- 6.1 (SD) in the brimonidine group and 4.6 +/- 5.3 mm Hg in the control group. In each group, 17 eyes (43%) had an IOP increase of 5 mm Hg or more. Twenty to 24 hours after surgery, the mean increase in IOP was 1.5 +/- 4.2 mm Hg in the brimonidine group and 1.6 +/- 4.4 mm Hg in the control group. There were no statistically significant between-group differences at any measurement.


CONCLUSIONS
In both groups, IOP significantly increased 6 hours and 20 to 24 hours after small incision cataract surgery. Brimonidine 0.2% failed to reduce the IOP increase observed after small incision cataract surgery.
Rainer
G
G
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. georg.rainer@akh-wien.ac.at
Menapace
R
R
Findl
O
O
Petternel
V
V
Kiss
B
B
Georgopoulos
M
M
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000368:Aged; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000517:prevention & control; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate