Comparison of difluprednate 0.05% versus prednisolone acetate 1% eyedrops following uneventful cataract surgery.

Purpose: To compare intraocular pressure (IOP) readings and postoperative inflammation between 2 corticosteroid drops: difluprednate (DP) ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% and prednisolone acetate (PA) 1.0% after uneventful cataract surgery. Patients and methods: randomized, controlled study of 343 patients undergoing uneventful cataract surgery in one eye. Randomization was used to allocate patients to either group: receive prednisolone acetate 1% five times daily or difluprednate 0.05% four times daily for 14 days post-surgery, then tapered over 14 days. Intraocular pressure was measured preoperative, 1st day, 1st week, and one month postoperative. Also, ocular inflammation was monitored in the form of anterior chamber (AC) flare, AC cells, corneal edema and conjunctival congestion. Results: No statistically significant difference in IOP between both groups was detected on postoperative first day and after one month. Yet there was statistically significant difference after first and second week of treatment with higher levels in the difluprednate group. As for ocular inflammation all signs resolved by the end of a month postoperative with no significant difference between both groups. Conclusion: There was significant increased intraocular pressure in the difluprednate group than in the prednisolone acetate group which might be attributed to the increased dosing and duration of use of difluprednate.