The Efficacy of Brimonidine in Decreasing Elevations in Intraocular Pressure After Laser Trabeculoplasty

Purpose: The authors explored the empirical dosing requirement for administration of an alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonist, brimonidine, and determined its efficacy in decreasing elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP) after 360 degrees argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT).

Methods: This vehicle-controlled, double-masked, multicenter trial evaluated three dosing regimens of brimonidine. Two hundred thirty-two patients for whom 360 degrees ALT was indicated were randomized into one of four treatment groups: 0.5% brimonidine both before and after ALT; brimonidine before but vehicle after ALT; vehicle before but brimonidine after ALT; or vehicle at both times.

Results: During the first 3 hours after 360 degrees ALT, the overall incidence of IOP elevations of 5 mmHg or greater was 38% (23 of 60 eyes) in the group receiving vehicle only, and it ranged from 3% to 9% (2 of 62 to 5 of 53 eyes) in the groups receiving any brimonidine treatment. There was little difference in efficacy between the three dosing regimens of brimonidine. Brimonidine was well tolerated by the patients.

Conclusion: Based on this large, controlled, multicenter study, 0.5% brimonidine was an effective agent for reducing elevations in IOP after 360 degrees ALT. Only one dose, administered either before or after 360 degrees ALT, was required.