Use of topical brimonidine to prevent intraocular pressure elevations following Nd:YAG-laser posterior capsulotomy

• Published in: Ophthalmic surgery and lasers Vol. 30; no. 8; p. 647
• Main Authors: Gartaganis, S P, Mela, E K, Katsimpris, J M, Petropoulos, J K, Karamanos, N K, Koliopoulos, J X
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1999
• Subjects: Acute Disease; Administration, Topical; Aged; Antihypertensive Agents - administration & dosage; Antihypertensive Agents - therapeutic use; Brimonidine Tartrate; Cataract Extraction; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Intraocular Pressure - drug effects; Laser Therapy - adverse effects; Lens Capsule, Crystalline - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Ocular Hypertension - etiology; Ocular Hypertension - prevention & control; Ophthalmic Solutions - administration & dosage; Ophthalmic Solutions - therapeutic use; Quinoxalines - administration & dosage; Quinoxalines - therapeutic use
• ISSN: 1082-3069

To evaluate the efficacy of topical brimonidine tartrate 0.2% (Allergan, Irvine, CA) in the prophylactic treatment of acute intraocular pressure (IOP) rises following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.
This was a double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study in 60 patients who underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy after extracapsular cataract extraction. Two doses of brimonidine or vehicle were administered before and after capsulotomy. Intraocular pressure was measured prior to commencing instillation and for 48 hours postoperatively.
Following posterior capsulotomy, the brimonidine group showed a significant mean percent reduction in IOP, while the vehicle group showed a significant mean percent increase in IOP. At 48 hours, mean IOP of both groups had returned to pre-laser level. There were no differences between the 2 groups in the incidence of clinical adverse experiences.
Two-dose brimonidine tartrate 0.2% effectively prevents acute IOP rises after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.