PURPOSE
Because topical brimonidine tartrate has been reported to decrease flap adherence in the early postoperative period after LASIK, its effect on the intrastromal corneal pressure (ICP) was evaluated.
METHODS
An interventional, prospective, animal study was performed. Intrastromal corneal pressure was recorded for 45 minutes in eight eyes of rabbits treated with topical brimonidine tartrate three times daily for 3 consecutive days (study group); eight contralateral eyes were treated with artificial tears (control group). All measurements were performed by the same, masked investigator.
RESULTS
Mean ICP was –4.00±2.90 mmHg, –6.70±3.00 mmHg, and –9.00±4.50 mmHg at 15, 30, and 45 minutes, respectively, in the control group. In the study group (brimonidine-treated eyes), the ICP readings were +2.75±2.90 mmHg, –2.50±3.00 mmHg, and –8.50±5.00 mmHg at the same time points, respectively. The differences in the ICP between both groups were statistically significant at 15 minutes (P=.01), but no significant difference was found at 30 or 45 minutes (P=.20 and P=.80, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS
Topical treatment with brimonidine tartrate induces a significant decrease in ICP at 15 minutes. This effect on ICP may explain the decreased corneal flap adherence reported in eyes treated with this drug. [J Refract Surg. 2010;26(7):533-535.]
AUTHORS
From Hospital Universitario Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares (Bolívar, Teus); VISSUM Madrid (Teus, Hernández-Verdejo); Universidad de Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares (Teus); and E.U. Óptica, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Hernández-Verdejo), Madrid, Spain.
The authors have no financial or proprietary interest in the materials presented herein.
Correspondence: Gema Bolívar, MD, C/ Jose María Pereda 10 2ºD, C.P. 28806, Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Tel: 34 646 93 50 77; E-mail: gemabolivardemiguel@yahoo.es
Received: November 18, 2009; Accepted: February 4, 2010
Posted online: March 15, 2010
doi:10.3928/1081597X-20100310-01
