Effect of a fixed brimonidine-timolol combination on intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of a fixed combination of brimonidine-timolol on intraocular pressure (IOP) after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.


METHODS
Department of Ophthalmology, Patras University Hospital, Patras, Greece.


METHODS
Prospective randomized comparative case series.


METHODS
Patients scheduled for phacoemulsification were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. The treatment group received 1 drop of brimonidine-timolol fixed combination immediately after surgery, and the control group received no treatment. The IOP was measured preoperatively and 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.


RESULTS
The treatment group comprised 28 eyes and the control group, 30 eyes. The mean IOP increased by 0.14 mm Hg ± 3.88 (SD) (P = .88) in the treatment group and increased by 2.8 ± 5.01 mm Hg (P = .007) in the control group. Twelve hours after surgery, the mean IOP decreased by -0.57 ± 3.82 mm Hg (P = .49) in the treatment group and increased by 2.20 ± 4.56 mm Hg (P = .009) in the control group. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the mean IOP decreased by -1.57 ± 2.30 mm Hg (P=.012) in the treatment group and increased by 0.86 ± 4.21 mm Hg (P = .175) in the control group. The mean IOP change between the 2 study groups 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively was statistically significantly different (P = .015, P = .006, and P = .003; respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The fixed brimonidine-timolol combination effectively reduced IOP 6, 12, and 24 hours after phacoemulsification cataract surgery.
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Patras, Medical School, Patras, Greece.
Nikolaos
N
Pharmakakis
Konstantinos
K
Giannopoulos
Stavros
S
Stasinos
Olga E
OE
Makri
Constantine D
CD
Georgakopoulos
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D019654:Lens Implantation, Intraocular; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D018918:Phacoemulsification / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D013999:Timolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D011810:Quinoxalines; D000068438:Brimonidine Tartrate; D013999:Timolol