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.