Purpose: To compare the outcomes and complications of topical difluprednate 0.05% and loteprednol gel 0.5% after routine cataract surgery.
Methods: Subjects received either difluprednate emulsion 0.05% (n=30 eyes) or loteprednol gel 0.5% (n=30 eyes) after routine cataract surgery. Topical steroid drops were initiated 3 days before cataract surgery and continued for 2 weeks postoperatively. Anterior chamber (AC) cell grade, corneal edema, corneal pachymetry, visual acuity, ocular surface quality (Oxford scale), and intraocular pressure (IOP) were evaluated at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively.
Results: Patients treated with difluprednate or loteprednol had statistically similar resolution of their AC cell grade and corneal edema at 1 day, 1 week, and 1 month postoperatively (P>0.05 at each study visit). Difluprednate-treated and loteprednol-treated eyes achieved a mean best-corrected visual acuity of at least 20/25 by 1 week postoperatively (0.055 and 0.061 logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution, respectively; P=0.82). The nasal ocular surface quality at 1 week had improved in loteprednol-treated eyes compared with difluprednate-treated eyes (1.0 vs. 1.9 Oxford score, respectively; P<0.001), but similar at all other visits. There was no statistical difference between IOP levels between both treatment groups (P>0.05). In the difluprednate-treated group, one patient developed rebound inflammation and two patients developed cystoid macular edema at their 1-month postoperative visit.
Conclusions: The anti-inflammatory effect, visual recovery, and IOP of patients using topical difluprednate or loteprednol gel after cataract surgery are equivalent. There may be an additional short-term benefit of loteprednol gel in protecting the ocular surface after cataract surgery.