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[Effect and side effects of apraclonidine]
1Storm Eye Institute, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425-2236, USA.
Klinische Monatsblatter Fur Augenheilkunde
|July 1, 1996
Summary
Apraclonidine effectively lowers intraocular pressure, offering a safe option for chronic open-angle glaucoma and post-laser procedure eye pressure spikes. It shows good systemic tolerance with manageable ocular side effects.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pharmacology
Context:
- Apraclonidine, a para-amino derivative of clonidine, acts as an alpha 2 adrenergic agonist.
- Its molecular structure limits blood-brain barrier penetration, minimizing systemic cardiovascular effects.
Purpose:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of apraclonidine in managing intraocular pressure.
- To assess its role in chronic open-angle glaucoma and as a preventative measure for post-procedural ocular hypertension.
Summary:
- Apraclonidine reduces intraocular pressure via aqueous suppression, demonstrating comparable efficacy to timolol maleate in monotherapy up to 8 hours.
- As an adjunctive therapy, it provides an additional 16% reduction in intraocular pressure and remains effective for at least three months.
- It is additive to maximally tolerated medical therapy, potentially eliminating the need for additional treatments in up to 60% of patients for up to five months.
Impact:
- Apraclonidine is valuable for preventing transient intraocular pressure increases after anterior segment laser procedures and intraocular surgery.
- The medication is well-tolerated systemically; the most common side effect is localized anterior segment intolerance, which resolves upon discontinuation.