COMPARISON OF THE ANTI-INFLAMMATORY EFFECTS OF FLUOROMETHOLONE 0.1% COMBINED WITH LEVOFLOXACIN 0.5% AND TOBRAMYCIN/ DEXAMETHASONE EYE DROPS AFTER CATARACT SURGERY

Introduction: Cataracts are a leading cause of vision impairment in older people. Since phacoemulsification surgery has become the most frequently employed method of cataract extraction, cataract surgery outcomes have improved significantly, while the extent of ocular injuries has decreased. However, ocular inflammatory reactions, which may be induced by surgical trauma, have not been eliminated, and the inflammation may cause unwanted complications including corneal edema, cystoid macular edema, and excessive cicatrizatio. Furthermore, perioperative incision infections or endophthalmitis are serious complications with cataract surgery due to their devastating consequences. Methodology: Sixty eyes from 60 patients undergoing cataract phacoemulsification were randomized into two groups; half of the patients were treated with fluorometholone (6 times/d) combined with levofloxacin (4 times/d), while the other half were treated with tobramycin/dexamethasone (4 times/d) eye drops for one week. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure, aqueous flare, corneal thickness, and signs and symptoms were recorded before the operation and 1wk following treatments. Results: At randomization the treatment groups were similar for age, sex, and race. Seven eyes of 4 patients were excluded from the per protocol analysis. In total, 60 patients were enrolled in this study and were randomized into two groups of 30. All of the patients completed both the study and the follow-up period. The patients in both groups had similar lens nuclear density and mean energy used during the surgery