Timolol gel versus acetazolamide in the prophylaxis of ocular hypertension after phacoemulsification

• Published in: Journal of cataract and refractive surgery Vol. 23; no. 7; pp. 1070 - 1074
• Main Authors: Kanellopoulos, Anastasios John, Perry, Henry D., Donnenfeld, Eric D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.09.1997; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Acetazolamide - administration & dosage; Acetazolamide - adverse effects; Acetazolamide - therapeutic use; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - administration & dosage; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - adverse effects; Adrenergic beta-Antagonists - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors - administration & dosage; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors - adverse effects; Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Delayed-Action Preparations; Double-Blind Method; Eye; Female; Gels; Humans; Intraocular Pressure; Lens Implantation, Intraocular; Male; Medical sciences; Ocular Hypertension - etiology; Ocular Hypertension - prevention & control; Phacoemulsification - adverse effects; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Premedication; Prospective Studies; Timolol - administration & dosage; Timolol - adverse effects; Timolol - therapeutic use; Antiglaucomatous agent; Ocular hypertension; Acetazolamide; Lyases; Colloidal gel; Prevention; Surgery; Intraocular lens; Timolol; Human; Postoperative; Cataract; Enzyme; Controlled release form; Oral administration; Enzyme inhibitor; Implantation; Phacoemulsification; Eye disease; Chemotherapy; Ophthalmic preparation; Lens disease; Treatment; Carbonate dehydratase; Carbon-oxygen lyases; Anterior segment disease; Comparative study; Hydro-lyases; Beta blocking agent; Intraocular pressure
• ISSN: 0886-3350; 1873-4502
• DOI: 10.1016/S0886-3350(97)80082-X

Purpose: To compare postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) after administration of acetazolamide and timolol following phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation. Setting: Ophthalmic Consultants of Long Island, Rockville Centre, New York, USA. Methods: Sixty patients were included in a prospective, randomized, masked trial. The patients received either two doses of oral, sustained-release acetazolamide (Diamox® Sequels®) or a single dose of topical timolol 0.5% gel (Timoptic XE®). Intraocular pressure was measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry preoperatively and 1 day postoperatively. Results: Mean preoperative IOP was 16.4 mm Hg. One day postoperatively, it was 19.5 mm Hg in the oral acetazolamide group and 15.9 mm Hg in the timolol gel group. One patient in the acetazolamide group developed significant adverse reactions. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of topical timolol 0.5% gel for viscoelastic-induced ocular hypertension after cataract extraction appears to offer better IOP control than oral acetazolamide and has potentially fewer adverse systemic effects.