[Topical clonidine in prevention of intra-ocular hypertension after Nd: YAG laser therapy]

We evaluated the prophylactic effect of 0.25% Clonidine HCl on the increase of intraocular pressure after Nd: YAG laser therapy. IOP of 150 eyes using Clonidine and 119 eyes without Clonidine were measured before and 0.5, 1, 2, 24 hours after Nd: YAG application. Various stages of angle-closure glaucoma and after cataract were both included in the treated and control groups and were compared respectively. Overall, the incidence of increase of IOP in the Clonidine-treated group was significantly less (9.3%) than the group without Clonidine (63.0%); the incidence of marked increase (> 1.06kPa) was also significantly less (2.0%) than those without Clonidine (18.5%). The peak value of IOP after laser therapy in the treated group did not exceed 3.06 kPa. Therefore, topical Clonidine is recommended as an effective and safe procedure to prevent the intraocular hypertension in Nd: YAG laser therapy.