Comparison of the postoperative intraocular pressure with Betagan, Betoptic, Timoptic, Iopidine, Diamox, Pilopine Gel, and Miostat.

A randomized, masked study measuring postoperative intraocular pressure at 4, 8, and 24 hours, two to seven days, and one month after planned extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation was conducted. Seven commonly used ocular hypotensive agents and a control, given at the completion of surgery, were compared: timolol maleate (Timoptic), levobunolol hydrochloride (Betagan), betaxolol hydrochloride (Betoptic), pilocarpine hydrochloride (Pilopine Gel), carbachol (Miostat), apraclonidine hydrochloride (Iopidine), acetazolamide (Diamox). There were significant differences between agents. Miostat was the most effective in controlling postoperative IOP, followed by Timoptic. Diamox, Pilopine Gel, and Betagan were equally effective. Betoptic was somewhat less effective and Iopidine was not significantly better than the control.