Plasma steroid levels and clinical effects after topical application of betamethasone.

A study was made of 41 patients (45 eyes) with post-operative irritative conditions to evaluate the clinical efficacy of topical betamethasone (BM) at various concentrations. The results obtained were as follows. First, serum concentrations of BM after treatment with 0.01% and 0.05% BM solution were much lower than those found after a 0.1% solution had been applied. However, no reduction in the serum cortisol was observed in the former. Second, the clinical evaluation was made in patients after cataract extraction. Marked and moderate improvement of post-operative inflammatory changes was observed in 90% of the patients treated with 0.05% and 0.1% solution and in only 30% of those treated with 0.01% solution. This study clearly shows the efficiency of 0.05% solution of BM with minimal suppressive effects on adrenal function.