Brimonidine 0.2% versus brimonidine Purite 0.15%: prophylactic effect on iop elevation after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the prophylactic effect of brimonidine 0.2% versus brimonidine Purite 0.15% on intraocular pressure (IOP) increase after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. METHODS: In this prospective, double-masked, randomized, controlled study, 106 patients (106 eyes) who underwent Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy were allocated to a brimonidine 0.2% group (35 eyes), a brimonidine Purite 0.15% group (36 eyes), or a vehicle group (35 eyes). One (1) drop of brimonidine 0.2%, brimonidine Purite 0.15%, or vehicle was instilled 1 h preoperatively and 1 drop immediately after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. IOPs were measured preoperatively and at 1, 2, 3, and 24 h postoperatively. RESULTS: Decreases in IOP from baseline ranged from 2.3 to 2.7 mmHg in the brimonidine 0.2% group and 2.2-2.5 mmHg in the brimonidine Purite 0.15% group (P < 0.05), whereas the vehicle group exhibited a rise in IOP. IOP elevations of less than 5 mmHg occurred in 22.9% of patients in the brimonidine 0.2% group, 27.8% in the brimonidine Purite 0.15% group, and 48.6% in the vehicle group. Spikes of IOP greater than 10 mmHg occurred in 2.9% of patients in the brimonidine 0.2% group, 2.8% in the brimonidine Purite 0.15% group, and 8.6% in the vehicle group. The incidence of IOP elevation was not statistically significant between the brimonidine 0.2% and the brimonidine Purite 0.15% groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Brimonidine 0.2% and brimonidine Purite 0.15% have similar efficacy in the prevention of IOP elevation after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.     

Intraocular pressure elevation following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

Intraocular pressures (IOP) and tonographic outflow facilities were measured following neodymium (Nd): YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in 13 pseudophakic and 8 aphakic eyes. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP) peaked by three hours with a mean increase of 13 mmHg, remained elevated by 5 mmHg at 24 hours but returned to baseline by one week. Fourteen eyes (67%) had greater than or equal to 10 mmHg elevation and eight (38%) had greater than or equal to 40 mmHg maximum IOP. All the patients who eventually demonstrated a greater than or equal to 10 mmHg elevation within six hours of the capsulotomy initially had an IOP elevation greater than or equal to 5 mmHg at one hour. The mean outflow facility was reduced from 0.18 microl/min/mmHg before capsulotomy to 0.08 microl/min/mmHg (55%, P less than 0.0001) at four hours and was still decreased at 0.13 microl/min/mmHg (27%, P less than 0.05) at one week. Seventy-five percent of aphakic and 15% of pseudophakic patients had maximum IOP greater than or equal to 40 mmHg (P less than 0.01). Measurements should be performed one hour postlaser in all patients for IOP and three to four hours in aphakic patients, glaucomatous patients, patients receiving greater than or equal to 200 mjoules total laser energy, and patients with greater than or equal to 5 mmHg elevation at one hour in order to detect and treat significant IOP elevations.     

Brinzolamide 1% versus apraclonidine 0.5% to prevent intraocular pressure elevation after neodymium:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of brinzolamide 1% with that of apraclonidine 0.5% in preventing intraocular pressure (IOP) rise after neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey. METHODS: One hundred fifteen patients who had Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy for posterior capsule opacification were prospectively randomized to receive brinzolamide 1% (57 patients) or apraclonidine 0.5% (58 patients) approximately 1 hour before laser surgery. A masked observer measured IOP by Goldmann applanation tonometry before treatment and after treatment at 1, 2, and 3 hours and 7 days. RESULTS: The mean IOP changes from baseline were not statistically different between the study groups at 1, 2, and 3 hours and 7 days (P =.109, P = .764, P =.275, and P =.879, respectively). The incidence of IOP elevation of 5 mm Hg or higher was 12.2% (7 of 57 eyes) in the brinzolamide group and 10.3% (6 of 58 eyes) in the apraclonidine group (P = .743); IOP elevations of 10 mm Hg and greater occurred in 3.5% (2 of 57 eyes) and 1.7% (1 of 58 eyes) (P = .618), respectively. There were no IOP elevations greater than 20 mm Hg in either group. CONCLUSION: Brinzolamide 1% and apraclonidine 0.5% given prophylactically before Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy were effective in preventing IOP spikes after treatment.     

Acute elevations of intraocular pressure following Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

We performed applanation tonometry preoperatively, hourly for the first four postoperative hours and on the first postoperative day in 66 eyes after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in order to determine the nature of the acute intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation and the risk factors involved. Forty-one percent of eyes developed an intraocular pressure greater than 30 mmHg and 14% greater than 40 mmHg. The IOP spike occurred on the second postoperative hour in 35% of eyes. Patients with controlled glaucoma prior to capsulotomy had a significantly lower mean IOP rise than patients without glaucoma. Eyes with posterior chamber IOLs were less likely to develop an IOP greater than 30 mmHg than were aphakic eyes without IOLs. There was no correlation between the laser energy or the size of the capsulotomy and the IOP rise.     

Nd：YAG激光治疗后发膜性白内障术后眼压升高的探讨

本文探讨９５人１０４只眼Ｎｄ：ＹＡＧ激光治疗后发膜性白内障术后眼压升高的原因。以激光前后眼压升高差值≥５ｍｍＨｇ为标准，眼压差值≥５ｍｍＨｇ组与＜５ｍｍＨｇ组两组总能量分别是６１５．４１±１１２９．８０ｍＪ和２０３．７１±３４２．６６ｍＪ，经统计学处理有显著差异。我们将术前眼压分为≥２０ｍｍＨｇ组与＜２０ｍｍＨｇ两组，术前眼压≥２０ｍｍＨｇ组术后眼压升高≥５ｍｍＨｇ占７３％，术前眼压＜２０ｍｍＨｇ组术后眼压升高≥５ｍｍＨｇ的占４４％，两组比较有差异。结论：①术中能量的大小是术后眼压升高的主要因素，击射时总能量大，术后眼压升高明显。②术前眼压高低也可影响术后眼压。提示我们在击射时选择适当的能量，降低术前眼压，控制术后炎症则可有效地减少术后眼压升高的发生     

Effect of pilocarpine in treatment of intraocular pressure elevation following neodymium: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

A prospective study was conducted in 30 eyes of 30 patients to determine if pilocarpine would prevent increased intraocular pressure following Q-switched neodymium (Nd):YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Fifteen eyes were given pilocarpine 4%, immediately following laser therapy and every hour until bedtime. Fifteen eyes served as untreated controls. Our results show that without prophylactic therapy, 10 of 15 eyes (67%) had a post-laser intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation of greater than 10 mmHg, while only one of 15 (6.6%) of the pilocarpine-treated eyes had a rise of that magnitude. The facility of outflow was reduced by 42% in the untreated eyes in contrast to an increase of 3% in those eyes treated with pilocarpine. Thus, pilocarpine 4% is effective in reducing the incidence and magnitude of elevated IOP following Nd:YAG posterior capsulotomy.     

Neodymium: YAG laser posterior capsulotomy: visual acuity outcome and intraocular pressure elevation

A Q-switched neodymium: YAG laser was used to perform 67 posterior capsulotomies in 67 patients. A clear visual axis was produced in all the eyes. The visual acuity improved by one or more Snellen lines in 90% of the eyes, and the final visual acuity was 20/40 (6/12) or better in 78% of the eyes. Cystoid macular edema developed in two patients after capsulotomy. Increases in intraocular pressure were most prevalent in the early postoperative period. No significant correlation was found between the acute pressure rise and the laser energy used, a previous history of glaucoma or the presence of an intraocular lens. After 6 months of follow-up none of the eyes showed a permanent pressure elevation.     

Efficacy of brimonidine 0.2% in controlling acute postoperative intraocular pressure elevation after phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To determine the efficacy of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% drops given 2 times a day in reducing intraocular pressure (IOP) spikes during the first 24 hours after phacoemulsification cataract surgery. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital of Patras Agios Andreas, Patras, Greece. METHODS: In this prospective double-blind placebo-controlled study, 1 eye of 40 consecutive normotensive cataract patients having small-incision cataract surgery was randomized into 1 of 2 treatment arms. Twenty patients received a placebo (artificial tears) and 20 patients received brimonidine tartrate 0.2% drops 2 times a day the day before and the day of surgery. Diurnal IOP variation was the primary efficacy variable; IOP was measured at baseline, before surgery, and 4, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The placebo group had higher IOPs at every time point after surgery. Peak elevation of IOP occurred 6 hours after surgery. The mean IOP in the placebo group (27.71 mm Hg +/- 3.75 [SD]) was statistically significantly higher than in the brimonidine group (21.45 +/- 1.32 mm Hg) (P<.001). A major IOP rise (>/=20 mm Hg above baseline IOP) occurred in 1 patient (5%) in the placebo group who required emergency hypotensive therapy. Twenty-four hours after surgery, 11 eyes (55%) in the brimonidine group and 4 eyes (20%) in the placebo group had an IOP lower than baseline. CONCLUSION: Prophylactic treatment with brimonidine tartrate 0.2% 2 times a day for 2 days was effective in reducing IOP peaks throughout the first 24 hours after phacoemulsification surgery.     

Dorzolamide X apraclonidine in the prevention of the intraocular pressure spike after Nd : YAG laser posterior capsulotomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of dorzolamide compared to apraclonidine, in the prevention of the intra-ocular pressure (IOP) spike after Nd :YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. SITE: Department of Ophthalmology, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP) General Hospital, Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: In a double masked prospective clinical trial, 217 eyes from 217 patients were randomly assigned to receive either dorzolamide 2 h before and placebo 1 h before Nd : YAG laser capsulotomy or placebo 2 h before and apraclonidine 1 h before the procedure. Inclusion criteria were secondary cataracts with reduction in best corrected visual acuity (BCVA < 20/40), absence of manifest or suspected glaucoma and no known hypersensitivity to the study drugs. IOP was measured 2 h and 1 h before applying the laser, and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 7 days after. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the IOP 2 h and 1 h before the procedure, and 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 7 days after the laser treatment (p values, respectively: 0.077, 0.21, 0.085, 0.36, and 0.60). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that dorzolamide is as safe and effective as apraclonidine in the prevention of the IOP elevation after Nd : YAG laser posterior capsulotomy. Synopsis. The efficacy of dorzolamide was compared to apraclonidine in the prevention of the intraocular pressure spike after Nd : YAG laser posterior capsulotomy in 217 patients and the results were similar with both drugs.     

The efficacy of 0.2% brimonidine for preventing intraocular pressure rise following argon laser trabeculoplasty

Brimonidine tartrate of 0.5% was identified as the most effective and safe dose for acute intraocular pressure (IOP) lowering. The efficacy of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% in preventing IOP elevation after an argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT) was evaluated. Eighty patients were selected for a randomized, prospective study. Each patient was assigned to one of four treatment regimens: (1) brimonidine before and after ALT(B/B), (2) brimonidine before and placebo after ALT(B/P), (3) placebo before and brimonidine after ALT(P/B), (4) placebo before and after ALT(P/P). IOP elevation of 5 mmHg or greater occurred in 3.3% (2/60) of brimonidine-treated patients and in 30% (6/20) of placebo-treated patients. There was a mean decrease of IOP from baseline during the first 3 hours after ALT in all brimonidine-treated groups (7.1 +/- 3.4, 6.2 +/- 4.4, 3.5 +/- 2.9 mmHg for the B/B, B/P, P/B groups), but no change of mean IOP in the Placebo-treated group. Only one drop of brimonidine tartrate of 0.2% installed either before or after ALT was sufficient to prevent post-ALT IOP spike and minimize the undesired systemic adverse effects that two drop installation can produce.     

减少Nd:YAG激光后囊膜切开术人工晶状体损伤的探讨

目的　探讨减少或避免 Nd:YAG激光后囊膜切开术人工晶状体 (IOL )损伤的方法。方法　对 2 5 2例(2 6 1只眼 ) IOL眼晶状体后囊膜混浊 (posterior capsule opacity,PCO)患者行 Nd:YAG激光后囊膜切开术。采用环行切开后推膜瓣法或十字形切开法。平均单脉冲能量 (2 .35± 0 .38) m J,平均脉冲次数 (2 9± 10 .2 1)次 ,平均总能量(6 8.15± 11.0 2 ) m J。平均随访 (13± 5 )个月。结果　截囊成功率 10 0 %。发生 IOL损伤 12只眼 (4 .6 % ) ,均为轻度损伤。 1、2级 PCO和较薄的 PCO未发生 IOL损伤。结论　掌握激光手术时机及操作技巧是减少或避免 Nd:YAG激光后囊膜切开术 IOL损伤的关键     

Effect of topical brinzolamide 1% and brimonidine 0.2% on intraocular pressure after phacoemulsification

PURPOSE: To compare the effectiveness of brinzolamide 1% (Azopt) and brimonidine 0.2% (Alphagan) with a placebo in preventing an early increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) after phacoemulsification. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Baskent University, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. METHODS: In this prospective double-masked study, 90 eyes of 90 patients having clear corneal phacoemulsification were randomly divided into 3 groups of 30 eyes each. One hour before surgery, 1 group received 1 drop of brinzolamide 1%, another received 1 drop of brimonidine 0.2%, and the third received 1 drop of a balanced saline solution (placebo). The IOP was measured preoperatively and 3 and 16 to 20 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: Three hours postoperatively, the mean IOP increased by 4.2 mm Hg +/- 7.0 (SD), 3.2 +/- 6.4 mm Hg, and 5.3 +/- 4.2 mm Hg in the brinzolamide, brimonidine, and placebo groups, respectively. The IOP increase from baseline was significant in all 3 groups (all P<.01), with no difference between the groups (P>.05). The change in IOP at 16 to 20 hours was 0.2 +/- 2.8 mm Hg, 0.2 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, and -0.8 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, respectively. The changes were not significant compared to baseline (all P>.05). Six eyes (20%) in the brinzolamide group, 5 eyes (16.7%) in the brimonidine group, and 7 eyes (23.3%) in the placebo group had an IOP higher than 25 mm Hg 3 hours postoperatively; the difference between groups was not significant (P =.8). CONCLUSION: Prophylactic use of 1 drop of brinzolamide or brimonidine was not more effective than a placebo in controlling early postoperative IOP elevations after clear corneal phacoemulsification.     

Apraclonidine 0.5% versus brimonidine 0.2% for the control of intraocular pressure elevation following anterior segment laser procedures

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Both apraclonidine hydrochloride 0.5% and brimonidine tartrate 0.5% are potent alpha-2 agonists, effective in controlling the intraocular pressure (IOP) rise following argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT). Brimonidine has recently become available commercially as a 0.2% solution. Our goal in this study was to compare the efficacy and side effect profile of 0.2% brimonidine to that of 0.5% apraclonidine in the prevention of IOP spikes following anterior segment laser procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients undergoing argon laser trabeculoplasty, Nd:Yag peripheral iridectomy or posterior capsulotomy were prospectively randomized to receive either apraclonidine 0.5% or brimonidine 0.2%, approximately 10 minutes prior to laser surgery. Intraocular pressure was measured by a masked observer, using Goldmann applanation tonometry, before and 1 hour after the treatment. RESULTS: 51 ALTs, 21 peripheral iridectomies, and 13 posterior capsulotomies were performed. The incidence of an IOP rise greater than 5 mmHg was 3/43 (7.0%) in the brimonidine group and 0/42 (0%) in the apraclonidine group (P = 0.08, chi-squared). There were no IOP elevations greater than 8 mmHg. All IOP rises of greater than 5 mmHg occurred in the ALT sub-group, and within this sub-group, the mean change in IOP from pre- to post-op was -4.00 +/- 5.87 in the brimonidine group versus -4.29 +/- 3.86 in the apraclonidine group (P = 0.84). There was a statistically significant decrease in IOP from baseline in both drug groups (P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Both drugs are highly effective in controlling IOP spikes following anterior segment laser procedures. There is a tendency toward higher risk of IOP rise following argon laser trabeculoplasty with 0.2% brimonidine as compared to 0.5% apraclonidine, however, this was not statistically significant.     

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

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: 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. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. CONCLUSION: Two-dose brimonidine tartrate 0.2% effectively prevents acute IOP rises after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy.