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Ocular hypertensive and anti‐inflammatory responses to different dosages of topical dexamethasone in children: a randomized trial
Author(s) -
Lam Dennis SC,
Fan Dorothy SP,
Ng Joan SK,
Yu Christopher BO,
Wong Chun Y,
Cheung Albert YK
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
clinical and experimental ophthalmology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.3
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1442-9071
pISSN - 1442-6404
DOI - 10.1111/j.1442-9071.2005.01022.x
Subject(s) - medicine , dexamethasone , intraocular pressure , strabismus , strabismus surgery , dose , ophthalmology , group b , randomized controlled trial , anesthesia , surgery
A bstract Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the ocular hypertensive and anti‐inflammatory responses to two different dosage schedules of 0.1% topical dexamethasone in a population of Chinese children undergoing strabismus surgery. Methods: Children undergoing bilateral strabismus surgeries were randomly assigned to receive topical 0.1% dexamethasone eye drops four times daily (group A) or twice daily (group B) for 4 weeks. Intraocular pressure (IOP) and anti‐inflammatory responses were monitored for 8 weeks. Results: A total of 137 children with mean age 6.5 years (SD, 1.9 years; range, 3–10 years) participated in the study. The IOP increased significantly after 4 weeks in both groups compared to the preoperative values ( P < 0.001). Peak IOP ranged from 14.0 to 50.3 mmHg in group A and 11.0–41.3 mmHg in group B. Cases in group A (mean, 13.8 mmHg; SD, 8.4 mmHg) had a greater net increase in IOP than cases in group B (mean, 10.2 mmHg; SD, 6.2 mmHg; P = 0.004). Younger‐aged children had higher peak IOP ( r = −0.244, P = 0.048), and attained the peak IOP earlier ( r = 0.252, P = 0.041) in group A. There was no significant difference in ocular inflammatory response between the two groups. Conclusion: Ocular hypertensive effect to topical 0.1% dexamethasone is dose and age dependent in children. Twice‐daily 0.1% topical dexamethasone eye drops control inflammation after strabismus surgery as effectively as four‐times‐daily dosage, but induces less increase in IOP, and may be a better treatment schedule.