Difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion 0.05% as adjunctive treatment to panretinal photocoagulation for proliferative diabetic retinopathy with clinically significant macular edema.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of topical difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion in controlling progressive diabetic macular edema after panretinal photocoagulation.


METHODS
This was a case report of two patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy combined with diabetic macular edema who underwent panretinal photocoagulation combined with use of a topical difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion.


RESULTS
In the Case 1, retinal thickness was decreased 29% 1 month after the start of difluprednate treatment and best-corrected visual acuity was improved 20/40 to 20/25. In Case 2, retinal thickness was decreased 43% after 1 month, and best-corrected visual acuity was improved 20/100 to 20/60 after 3 months. During the follow-up period, elevation of intraocular pressure, ocular infection, and progression of cataract were not detected, though superficial punctuate keratitis was observed in one case.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical difluprednate ophthalmic emulsion was one of the possible choices to treat progressive diabetic macular edema after panretinal photocoagulation. It is mandatory to evaluate the effects and safety in further studies including many cases.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan.
Teiko
T
Yamamoto
Sakiko
S
Nakano Goto
Sachi
S
Abe
Eriko
E
Kirii
Hidetoshi
H
Yamashita