title: A randomized controlled trial comparing dexamethasone with loteprednol etabonate on postoperative photorefractive keratectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare loteprednol etabonate 0.5%/tobramycin 0.3% (Zylet(®)) with dexamethasone 0.1%/tobramycin 0.3% (Tobradex(®)) in terms of the epithelial healing time, postoperative visual acuity, corneal haziness score, and intraocular pressure (IOP) in postoperative treatment after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, randomized, double-masked (participants and assessors blinded) controlled study included 32 patients who underwent PRK. The patients were allocated equally into 2 groups by block randomization to receive either loteprednol etabonate (Lot) or dexamethasone (Dex) for 1 month after the surgery. The epithelial healing time, uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), corneal haziness score, and IOP were evaluated at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The corneal epithelium was healed within 3 days in both groups; however, the epithelium was closed on the second day in 3 cases in the Lot group compared with 1 case in the Dex group. No significant differences were found for UCVA at 1 and 3 months (Fisher exact test, P>0.01). Similarly, there was no statistically significant difference in corneal haziness scores between the 2 groups at 1 and 3 months (Mann-Whitney U test, P>0.05). The number of patients experiencing significantly increased IOP (≥5 mmHg) from baseline at any visit for the Lot group (1/16 patients) was fewer than for the Dex group (3/16 patients).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Loteprednol etabonate was effective in postoperative PRK management and was significantly less likely to produce elevations in IOP than was dexamethasone.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University , Khon Kaen, Thailand .
authors.forename: Onsiri
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Thanathanee
authors.forename: Phornrak
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sriphon
authors.forename: Orapin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Anutarapongpan
authors.forename: Raweewan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Athikulwongse
authors.forename: Prakairat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thongphiew
authors.forename: Ram
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rangsin
authors.forename: Olan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Suwan-apichon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D003907:Dexamethasone; D000069559:Loteprednol Etabonate