Effect of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% ophthalmic solution on visual quality after implantable collamer lens implantation with a central hole.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of brimonidine tartrate 0.2% on visual quality after implantable collamer lens with a central hole (ICL V4c).

Methods: This study comprised 59 consecutive patients implanted with an ICL V4c. Brimonidine was administered randomly into one eye of the patients with symptomatic glare or halos 1 week postoperatively and the contralateral eye with artificial tears as the control group. Visual quality (measured by a optical quality analysis system), pupil size and refraction under scotopic light conditions were measured before and 0.5, 1.5, 3 and 6 h after administration of brimonidine. A symptom questionnaire was also evaluated.

Results: The visual quality improved and reached its maximum value, and the scotopic pupil size reached its minimum value 1.5 h after brimonidine administration, with a statistically significant difference seen from 0.5 to 3 h compared to baseline. No changes in refraction were seen after brimonidine. The questionnaire showed that symptoms of glare or halos could be eliminated after brimonidine in 58% of patients, be alleviated in 37% of patients and be unchanged in 5% of patient. However, 10% of patients experienced conjunctival congestion and some patients experienced reduced drug efficacy 1 month after treatment.

Conclusion: Brimonidine can be used to improve night visual quality in early postoperative period after ICL V4c implantation. It helps patients to quickly adapt to the glare or halos.