Short-term effects of unilateral 1% apraclonidine therapy
A. L. Robin
Glaucoma Services, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, MD.
A prospective, double-masked, randomized study evaluated the effects of
unilateral therapy with topical 1% apraclonidine hydrochloride (aplonidine
hydrochloride or ALO 2145) in 20 normal volunteers. No medications were
applied to either eye during the control day. Following baseline
measurements on the day of treatment, one drop of topical 1% apraclonidine
hydrochloride was placed on one eye and a placebo (vehicle) was placed on
the fellow eye. Intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements, pupil size, blood
pressure, and pulse rate were assessed on both days at the baseline and 1,
3, 5, and 7 hours later. The 1% apraclonidine hydrochloride lowered the
mean IOP (+/- SD) a maximum of 6.5 +/- 4.3 mm Hg (37.3% +/- 20.4%) from the
baseline on the day of treatment. A statistically significant 2.7 +/-
3.4-mm Hg (14.9% +/- 19.0%) mean IOP decrease from the baseline was noted
in the contralateral placebo-treated eye. No significant changes in the
coefficient of outflow, blood pressure, or heart rate were noted. Eyelid
retraction, conjunctival blanching, and mydriasis were frequently noted in
eyes treated with 1% apraclonidine hydrochloride.
