Comparing the effects of apraclonidine versus timolol in preventing the intraocular pressure elevation after YAG laser capsulotomy

Considering the high number of cataract surgery and the posterior capsular opacity as its complication which needs laser capsulotomy and also the rising of intraocular pressure (IOP) after such surgeries, the purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of apraclonidine and timolol separately in decreasing IOP after laser capsulotomy in Matini hospital of Kashan during 2010-11. In this clinical trial study, 200 eyes of patients with posterior capsular opacity were randomly divided into two groups and each group treated by timolol or apraclonidine before YAG laser capsulotomy. Then, the tonometer was used to record the intraocular pressure, 1 hour before, 6 and 24 hours after the capsulotomy. One-hundred forty (70%) of the patients were women and 60 (30%) men. The interaction between the two drugs and time was not significant (P=0.104). There was no significant difference between the two groups for mean IOP at any time. (P=0.738). Therefore, apraclonidine and timolol are similar in their effects on reducing IOP after laser capsulotomy. In addition, mean IOP in three consecutive measurements were significantly different (P=0.001). Moreover, the differences between paired comparisons of time were also significant in all three measurements. The efficacy of apraclonidine in reducing IOP in patients underwent the posterior capsulotomy is established and it is similar to timolol in mechanism.