Corticosteroid therapy for the reduction of postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction.

In an random, double-masked multicentric clinical trial, topical betamethasone phosphate 0.1% or placebo eyedrops were used five times daily for the first two weeks after uncomplicated intracapsular cataract extraction in 107 patients who had moderate to severe postoperative inflammation on the first postoperative day. Topical corticosteroid solution was significantly more effective than placebo in the reduction of postoperative ocular inflammation. There were no ocular complications of corticosteroid treatment.