The Incidence of Increased Intraocular Pressure when Using 0.1% Fluorometholone after Photorefractive Keratectomy

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To analyze the time and incidence of increased intraocular pressure (IOP) induced by 0.1% fluorometholone used to prevent corneal haze after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK). METHODS: The present study included 826 patients (826 eyes) who underwent PRK between November 2012 and October 2013 and were followed up for more than 6 months. After surgery the patients were treated with 0.1% fluorometholone for 3-6 months according to their corneal conditions. The time and incidence was analyzed with the time and incidence when anti-glaucoma eye drops were used. RESULTS: Anti-glaucoma eye drops were used in 312 eyes (38%). The anti-glaucoma eye drops were started before 4 weeks postoperatively in 105 eyes (13%) and postoperatively at 5-8 weeks in 86 eyes (10%), at 9-12 weeks in 83 eyes (10%), at 13-16 weeks in 25 eyes (3%) and after 17 weeks in 13 eyes (2%). CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of increased IOP when treated with 0.1% fluorometholone for 3-6 months after PRK was approximately 38%. The incidence of increased IOP in each month for the first 3 months was almost identical implying that the longer 0.1 fluorometholone was used, the higher incidence of increased IOP occurred. These results can be helpful in educating patients regarding the risk of increased IOP and determining the follow-up period after PRK.