Effect of Apraclonidine Hydrochloride on the Acute Intraocular Pressure Rise after Argon laser Iridotomy

ABSTRACT

To determine the effect of apraclonidine hydrochloride on the acute intraocular pressure (IOP) rise after argon laser iridotomy (ALl), a double-masked comparative study was carried out. Twenty-nine eyes (20 patients) with angle-closure glaucoma underwent ALL Eighteen eyes were treated with apraclonidine and the remainder received placebo 1 hour before and immediately after ALl. The mean IOP increase in the apraclonidine group was lower than that in placebo group at each postlaser intervals (p<0.01). Although average value of maximal increases of IOP after ALl in apraclonidine group was 4 mmHg, that in placebo group was 16mmHg. 27.3% (3 out of 11 eyes) in placebo group experienced IOP rise greater than or equal to 10 mmHg, however, that kind of IOP rise was not found in apraclonidine group (0 out of 18 eyes) (p