EFFICACY OF APRACLONIDINE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION (IOPIDINE) IN PRESUMED SILICON OIL-INDUCED GLAUCOMA AND PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA

Background: This pilot study evaluated the acute effects of topical oc ular apraclonidine 1% (Iopidine) in 10 patients with presumed silicone oil-induced secondary glaucoma (SOIG) and in 10 patients with high-pr essure primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) despite maximum tolerated me dical therapy. Methods: Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements were c arried out before and 1, 2 and 3 h after a single drop of apraclonidin e. Results: Patients with SIOG presented with a mean IOP of 30.0 +/- 2 .8 mmHg, which was reduced to 21.7 +/- 2.9 mmHg (P < 0.001) after 1 h, to 20.4 +/- 2.3 mmHg (P < 0.001) after 2 h and to 20.0 +/- 2.5 mmHg ( P < 0.001) after 3 h. In the POAG group, IOP was reduced from 25.9 +/- 1.9 mmHg before treatment to 18.9 +/- 1.4 mmHg after 1 h (P < 0.001), 17.7 +/- 1.2 mmHg after 2 h (P < 0.001) and 16.9 +/- 0.9 mmHg after 3 h (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in blood pressure or pulse rate. Conclusion: This study confirmed the activity of apraclon idine as an IOP suppressant.