The Results of Preoperative Use of Topical Brimonidine in Strabismus Surgery

Abstract

Purpose:

In this study, we wanted to retrospectively evaluate the effect of the use of topical brimonidine on intraoperative bleeding and surgical hemostasis before strabismus surgery.

Methods:

Brimonidine tartrate 0.15% (Brimogut, Bilim Ilac, Turkey) eye drops were applied 6 and 3 min before surgery to 44 eyes of 22 patients in group 1 for vasoconstriction. Drops were not applied to 46 eyes of 23 patients in group 2. Preoperative and postoperative photographs and video images were taken. Black-and-white images were used to define the surface areas of the blood vessels. The surface area was calculated by counting the black pixels with ImageJ software.

Results:

In group 1, redness of eye was observed, on average, at preoperative 339.25 ± 11.52 pixels and intraoperative 247.93 ± 10.63 pixels (P < 0.001). But there was no change in group 2 (preoperative 338.87 ± 8.45 pixels to intraoperative 339.71 ± 9.52 pixels, P > 0.05). The incidence of intraoperative bleeding evaluated by the number of eyes on which cautery was used shows that it was significantly less in group 1 than in group 2 (P < 0.001).

Conclusions:

The use of topical brimonidine before strabismus surgery facilitates clear monitoring of anatomical structures during surgery by effectively controlling hemorrhage. In the postoperative period, it significantly reduces subconjunctival hemorrhage.