Brinzolamide‐timolol fixed combination for the prevention of intraocular pressure elevation after phacoemulsification

Background To evaluate the efficacy of brinzolamide‐timolol fixed combination in intraocular pressure during the first 24 h after uneventful phacoemulsification cataract surgery using V iscoat and Provisc. Design Prospective randomized comparative case series. Participants Ninety‐two eyes of equal patients scheduled for phacoemulsification cataract surgery. Methods Treatment group (52 eyes) received a drop of brinzolamide‐timolol fixed combination immediately after surgery. Control group (40 eyes) received no treatment. Main Outcome Measures Intraocular pressure preoperatively and at 6, 12 and 24 h postoperatively. Results Six hours after surgery the mean intraocular pressure decreased by 0.3 ± 2.95  mmHg ( P  > 0.05) in the treatment group and increased by 6.8 ± 2.78  mmHg ( P  < 0.001) in the control group. Twelve hours postoperatively, the mean intraocular pressure increased by 0.23 ± 3.49  mmHg ( P  > 0.05) in the treatment group and by 5.3 ± 3.26  mmHg ( P  < 0.001) in the control group. Twenty‐four hours after surgery, the mean intraocular pressure decreased by 1.76 ± 2.83  mmHg ( P  < 0.01) in the treatment group and in the control group increased by 1.4 ± 2.46  mmHg ( P  > 0.05). The intraocular pressure in the treatment group was statistically significantly lower compared with the control group at 6, 12 and 24 h postoperatively. None of the eyes in the treatment group had postoperative intraocular pressure elevation ≥10  mmHg ; such an increase was recorded in 20% and 10% of control eyes at 6 and 12 h after surgery, respectively. Conclusion A single dose of brinzolamide‐timolol fixed combination after phacoemulsification cataract surgery prevented a significant intraocular pressure increase during the first 24 h postoperatively.