Abstract

Volume.127 Number.5

Original article : Clinical science

Examination of the Short-term Impact of Fluorometholone 0.1% on Japanese Children
Kenta Hozumi1, Teiji Yagasaki1,2, Yoshimi Yokoyama1, Makiko Tsukui1, Sho Ichikawa1,3, Shota Shiroyama1
1 Department of Ophthalmology, Japan Community Health care Organization Chukyo Hospital
2 Yagasaki Eye Clinic
3 Department of Ophthalmology, Japanese Red Cross Gifu Hospital

Objective: To investigate the effect of 0.1% fluorometholone eye drop solution on intraocular pressure (IOP) in Japanese children.
Patients and methods: We examined 122 pediatric patients with strabismus aged < 15 years who underwent strabismus surgery at the Japan Community Health care Organization, Chukyo Hospital (our hospital), from January 1,2014, to December 31,2020, and were administered 0.1% fluorometholone eye drop solution four times a day for at least one month post-surgery. Their intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using the Non Contact Tonometer NT-530Ⓡ (NIDEK CO., LTD. ). Initially, changes in IOP were compared before and one month after the administration of the eye drop solution in right eyes or left eyes in 58 out of 122 patients who underwent surgery for both eyes during the observation period. After confirming that there was no difference in changes in the IOP of both eyes, pre- and postoperative IOP and changes in IOP were measured retrospectively in 122 eyes of 122 patients (one eye for each patient). Furthermore, these values were compared between patients aged ≥10 years and < 10 years.
Results: The patients comprised 57 boys and 65 girls, with a mean age of 8.5 years (standard deviation: 2.6 years, range: 4-14 years). At one month postoperatively, 2 of the 122 eyes showed an increase in IOP of ≥6 mmHg compared with the preoperative IOP, with 8 eyes having an IOP of ≥20 mmHg, and 1 eye had an IOP of ≥20 mmHg and an increase of ≥6 mmHg compared with the preoperative IOP. There was no significant difference between preoperative and postoperative IOP in the right eyes or left eyes (p=0.669 and p=0.947, respectively) nor in the change in IOP before and after eye drop administration between patients aged < 10 years and ≥10 years (p=0.390).
Conclusion: The 0.1% fluorometholone eye drop solution is unlikely to cause a significant increase in IOP in children after short-term use (1 month) and is considered safe for use in the anti-inflammatory treatment of pediatric patients.
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi (J Jpn Ophthalmol Soc) 127: 543-548,2023.

Key words
Fluorometholone, Pediatric ophthalmology, Strabismus surgery, Steroid responder, Glaucoma
Reprint requests to
Kenta Hozumi, M. D.　Department of Ophthalmology, Japan Community Health care Organization Chukyo Hospital. 1-1-10 Sanjyo, Minami-ku, Nagoya-shi, 457-8510, Japan
Received: 23 May 2022. Accepted in revised form: 2 November 2022.
Nihon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi 127: 543-548,2023