Volume: 2
Year: 2025, Page: 1-7,
Received: Dec. 18, 2024 Accepted: March 12, 2025 Published: April 12, 2025
Cataract surgery commonly induces postoperative inflammation managed with topical corticosteroids, which while effective, can elevate intraocular pressure (IOP) and reduce infection resistance. Variations in corticosteroid potency and side effects, particularly IOP elevation require careful selection. This study aimed to compare the effects of three commonly used topical steroids, loteprednol, dexamethasone and difluprednate eye drops, on intraocular pressure (IOP) and blood glucose levels in patients with diabetes after cataract surgery. This prospective observational study included 90 patients with diabetes aged > 50 years who underwent cataract surgery. Patients received loteprednol (Group I: 0.1%), dexamethasone (Group II: 0.05%) or difluprednate (Group III: 0.5%) eye drops for six weeks. Baseline intraocular pressure (IOP) and fasting blood sugar (FBS) levels were recorded. IOP was measured at 2 and 6 weeks and FBS was measured at 3 weeks post-surgery. Among the 90 patients, most were aged 55-64 years (35.6%) and 64.6% were female. Significant baseline IOP differences existed among the groups, although the postoperative differences were not statistically significant. Clinically significant IOP elevations (≥ 10 mmHg) were observed in 3 patients in Group III. Group II exhibited a higher mean IOP increase at 3rd postoperative week, and Group III at 6th postoperative week. Dexamethasone showed a greater increase in blood glucose levels than loteprednol and difluprednate, which was statistically insignificant. This study demonstrated the varying effects of loteprednol, dexamethasone, and difluprednate on post-cataract surgery outcomes. Difluprednate caused significant IOP elevation, while dexamethasone increased blood glucose levels compared to difluprednate and loteprednol. It is crucial to monitor initial intraocular pressure and blood glucose levels, especially with difluprednate and dexamethasone, to manage potential complications in diabetes mellites patients undergoing cataract surgery.
Keywords: Cataract surgery, Topical corticosteroids, Intraocular pressure, Blood glucose levels, Diabetes
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© 2025 by the authors. Submitted for possible open access publication under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Published by Ascentia Publishers
Kiran LJ, Shivashankarmurthy KG, Hatti A, Prakash KB, Kumar HVS, Raghuprasada MS et al. Effect of Dexamethasone, Loterednol and Difluprednate Eye Drops on Intraocular Pressure and Blood Glucose Levels in Diabetic Patients After Cataract Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study. Advances in Preclinical and Clinical Research. 2025; 1:202501.