Difluprednate Shows Itself Effective for Intermediate Uveitis Treatment
Difluprednate, a steroid stronger than prednisolone, was recently tested for treatment of macular edema and vitritis in cases of posterior/intermediate uveitis, and its impact was noticeable.
Difluprednate, a steroid stronger than prednisolone, was recently tested for treatment of macular edema and vitritis in cases of posterior/intermediate uveitis. Difluprednate, in solution form, is typically used in cases of inflammation following ocular surgeries.
The study, presented at this week's American Academy of Ophthalmology 2016 Meeting, included 54 eyes in 38 patients, all with vitreous haze score (VHS) greater than or equal to 2. The primary outcome was a decrease in those scores, and secondarily, the researchers were looking for any difference in visual acuity or central foveal thickness.
The topical steroid was applied twice a day in a 0.05% eye drop solution, and at a mean distance of 34 weeks, it displayed its efficacy. Average VHS score decreased from 2.18 (±0.39) down to 0.11 (±0.21). Noticeable differences were also observed in central foveal thickness, in addition to a modest increase in visual acuity.
No major adverse systemic or ocular side effects were reported in the studio, though the potential risks of longterm topical steroid use are well documented. With all defined outcomes met, the study authors conclude that their work “suggests that topical difluprednate is effective for the treatment of vitritis and macular edema in patients with posterior/intermediate uveitis.”
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