Comparison of the anti-inflammatory effects of fluorometholone 0.1% combined with levofloxacin 0.5% and tobramycin/dexamethasone eye drops after cataract surgery

AIM： To compare the combination of fluorometholone0.1% and levofloxacin 0.5% to tobramycin/dexamethasone eye drops in controlling inflammation and preventing infection after phacoemulsification with an intraocular lens implantation.METHODS： Sixty eyes from 60 patients undergoing cataract phacoemulsification were randomized into two groups; half of the patients were treated with fluorometholone（6 times/d） combined with levofloxacin（4 times/d）, while the other half were treated with tobramycin/dexamethasone（4 times/d） eye drops for one week. Preoperative and postoperative intraocular pressure, aqueous flare, corneal thickness, and signs and symptoms were recorded before the operation and1 wk following treatments. RESULTS： There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups in corneal thickness（P ≥0.629）, aqueous flare（P ≥0.398）, and signs and symptoms scores（P ≥0.350） at each time point. Ocular hypertension was only observed in two eyes in the tobramycin/dexamethasone group. CONCLUSION： Fluorometholone combined with levofloxacin treatment shows comparable efficacy but without the tendency to increase intraocular pressure;thus, it might be a better regimen for postoperative use.