Aphakic macular edema: some observations on prevention and pathogenesis.

A prospective controlled trial of topical 0.1% dexamethasone drops was undertaken with the purpose of determining its efficacy in the prevention of aphakic macular edema. Of the 56 eyes studied specifically at the second and sixth postoperative weeks, none of the 28 in the steroid group showed macular edema, whereas the incidence in the nonsteroid group was 17.1% (P less than .01). The study highlights the role of steroids in reducing the incidence of postoperative macular as well as corneal edema. On the basis of earlier evidence and our observations on the conjunctival hyperfluorescence, the hypothesis for the genesis of macular edema has been modified.