Abstract
Purpose: :
Evaluation of the post-phacoemulsification inflammatory reaction of a single subconjunctival steroid injection versus steroid eye drops.
Methods: :
Twenty patients (20 eyes) were prospectively randomised in order to receive dexamethasone 0.1% eyedrops (n=10) three times a day for three weeks (group 1) or a single subconjunctival injection betamethasone 5,7 mg/mL (n=10) (group 2) after phacoemulsification. Inflammatory reactions in the anterior chamber were measured with laser flare photometry and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was measured with the ETDRS chart preoperatively and at 1,3,5,7,10,14,21,30,60 and 90 days postoperatively.
Results: :
There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in aqueous flare and BCVA measurements over time. The mean flare values rose in the first week after phacoemulsification in all patients and decreased after the third postoperative day in Group 1, and after the seventh postoperative day in Group 2. In both groups the flare values were almost back to preoperative levels 90 days after cataract surgery.
Conclusions: :
There were no significant differences between both groups, however the inflammatory reaction tends to be somewhat prolonged in the subconjunctival betamethasone group; the clinical relevance of this may be limited.
Clinical Trial: :
http://www.isrctn.org 41133247
Keywords: cataract • corticosteroids • inflammation