Effect of tropicamide on aqueous flare before and after cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of tropicamide on flare intensity under phakic and pseudophakic conditions and to differentiate between the possible mechanisms of action of tropicamide on aqueous flare.

SETTING

Department of Ophthalmology, Vienna General Hospital, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.

METHODS

In this prospective study, aqueous flare was measured with the laser flare-cell meter in 20 eyes of 20 patients with age-related cataract enrolled for cataract surgery. Measurements were performed before and 30, 90, and 180 minutes after pupil dilation with tropicamide 0.5%. This measurement was performed in the phakic eye on the day before surgery and in the pseudophakic eye on postoperative days 1, 3, 7, and 28.

RESULTS

After tropicamide instillation, aqueous flare decreased preoperatively and on all postoperative days. There was a continuous flare decrease until 3 hours after instillation, reaching a maximum decrease of about 30%. Pupil diameter reached its maximum after 30 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Tropicamide significantly decreased aqueous flare, seemingly by pharmacological means, not volumetric changes. The time between drug application and measurement should be kept constant.