EFFICACY OF TOPICAL 0.1% DEXAMETHASONE FOR THREE WEEKS AFTER UNCOMPLICATED LOW-RISK CATARACT EXTRACTION IN TERMS OF AQUEOUS FLARE AND CELLULAR TYNDALL ASSESSMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71000/2p5pb408Keywords:
Anterior Chamber; Aqueous Humor; Cataract; Cataract Extraction; Dexamethasone; Inflammation; Postoperative Care.Abstract
Background: Cataract extraction is routinely followed by a variable degree of anterior chamber inflammation, even after uncomplicated surgery. Topical corticosteroids remain a common postoperative choice because they reduce inflammatory activity and support visual recovery. Aqueous flare and cellular Tyndall assessment provide clinically useful indicators of blood-aqueous barrier disturbance and intraocular inflammation. This study evaluated whether a three-week course of topical 0.1% dexamethasone effectively controlled postoperative inflammation in low-risk cataract patients.
Objective: To determine the efficacy of topical 0.1% dexamethasone administered for three weeks after uncomplicated low-risk cataract extraction in terms of aqueous flare and cellular Tyndall assessment.
Methods: This descriptive case series was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Hospital, Lahore, from 11 May 2023 to 11 October 2023. A total of 80 patients aged 40–70 years with senile cataract planned for uncomplicated cataract extraction with intraocular lens implantation were enrolled through non-probability consecutive sampling. Patients with uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, ischemic heart disease, bronchial asthma, allergy, immunological disease, systemic steroid use, anticoagulant therapy, complicated cataract, mature cataract, lens-induced glaucoma, poor compliance, or intraoperative complications were excluded. Preoperative assessment included Snellen visual acuity, non-contact air-puff tonometry, and slit-lamp examination. All surgeries were performed by a single surgeon using standardized techniques. Postoperatively, topical 0.1% dexamethasone was prescribed for three weeks. Anterior chamber cells and flare were assessed using Hogan’s slit-lamp grading system. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.
Results: The mean age was 57.63 ± 6.55 years. Of 80 patients, 45 were male and 35 were female. Right-eye surgery was performed in 36 patients, while 44 underwent left-eye surgery. The mean anterior chamber cell value was 0.05 ± 0.150. Overall efficacy was observed in 72 patients, while 8 patients did not achieve efficacy. Efficacy was 88.9% in patients aged 40–55 years and 90.9% in patients aged 56–70 years. Male and female efficacy rates were 93.3% and 85.7%, respectively. Right-eye and left-eye efficacy rates were 88.9% and 90.9%, respectively. Efficacy was 77.8% in nuclear sclerosis grade 2 and 96.2% in nuclear sclerosis grade 3, with a statistically significant association.
Conclusion: Topical 0.1% dexamethasone administered for three weeks after uncomplicated low-risk cataract extraction was effective in controlling postoperative anterior chamber inflammation. The findings support its practical use as a postoperative anti-inflammatory regimen in selected low-risk cataract patients.
Keywords: Anterior Chamber; Aqueous Humor; Cataract; Cataract Extraction; Dexamethasone; Inflammation; Postoperative Care.
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