High risk of intraocular pressure rise with difluprednate post collagen cross-linking for keratoconus

Abstract

Purpose: To report intraocular pressure (IOP) after use of difluprednate ophthalmic solution 0.05% (Durezol®; Novartis AG, Basilea, Switzerland) post corneal cross-linking (CXL) versus prednisolone (Pred-Forte®; Allergan Inc., Irvine, CA, USA). Methods: A retrospective single-center case series evaluation of 34 keratoconus patients ages 16-“41 (36 eyes) who underwent CXL with Avedro's KXL System® (Avedro Inc; Waltham, MA) between August 2016 and August 2017. Post-CXL, six eyes were given difluprednate and 30 were given prednisolone. IOP was recorded using Reichert model 30 pneumatonometer. Those that exhibited increased IOP at 3 days were given anti-glaucoma medications and changed to fluorometholone or loteprednol. Results: IOP's 3 days' postoperative (24.167 ± 5.23) in the difluprednate group were significantly higher than preprocedure (16.5 ± 2.258). In the prednisolone group, 3 days postprocedure the mean IOP (14.2 ± 3.199) was not significantly higher than preoperatory IOP mean (16.8 ± 4.232). The difference between IOP 3 days' postprocedure and before was 7.667 ± 4.546 for the difluprednate group and 2.567 ± 2.648 for the prednisolone group. These were compared using an unpaired t-test (t value = 3.750 ± 1.297) with P = 0.0007. Discussion: This study shows statistically significant difference in postoperative and preoperative IOP values after the use of difluprednate or prednisolone in young patients postCXL. Measuring the pachymetry on follow-up examinations could help see if changes in corneal thickness affect measured IOP. A controlled prospective double-blind study could confirm a greater increase in IOP following difluprednate versus prednisolone use, but due to the high risk, we do not recommend this study.