Brimonidine 0.2% versus apraclonidine 0.5% for prevention of intraocular pressure elevations after anterior segment laser surgery

To compare the efficacy of brimonidine 0.2% with apraclonidine 0.5% in preventing intraocular pressure (IOP) elevations after anterior segment laser surgery. Double-masked, randomized clinical trial. Sixty-six patients underwent either laser peripheral iridotomy, argon laser trabeculoplasty, or neodymium:yttrium–aluminum–garnet laser capsulotomy. Eyes received either one drop of brimonidine 0.2% or apraclonidine 0.5% before laser surgery. Intraocular pressure, heart rate, and blood pressure were measured before laser surgery and at 1 hour, 3 hours, 24 hours, and 1 week after laser surgery. Before the laser treatment, 33 patients (50.0%) received brimonidine 0.2% and 33 patients (50.0%) received apraclonidine 0.5%. Eight of 33 patients (24.2%) in the brimonidine-treated group and 9 of 33 patients (27.3%) in the apraclonidine group had postoperative IOP increases of 5 mmHg or more. This was not statistically different ( P = 0.80). By the time of last follow-up examination, 3 of 33 patients (9.1%) in the brimonidine-treated group and 3 of 33 patients (9.1%) in the apraclonidine group had IOP increases of 10 mmHg or more. This was also not statistically different ( P ≥ 0.95). The mean IOP reduction from baseline in the brimonidine group (−2.8 ± 2.8 mmHg) was not statistically different ( P = 0.55) compared with the mean IOP reduction in the apraclonidine group (−3.6 ± 3.3 mmHg). There were no statistically significant changes in mean heart rate or blood pressure in either group except for a slight reduction in diastolic blood pressure at 1 hour ( P = 0.005) in the brimonidine group (−5.2 ± 7.4 mmHg) compared with the apraclonidine group (−0.2 ± 6.4 mmHg). There were no clinically significant side effects noted in either group. A single preoperative drop of brimonidine 0.2% is as effective as apraclonidine 0.5% in preventing IOP elevation immediately after anterior segment laser surgery.