Effect of dexamethasone on corneal endothelial function in Fuchs' dystrophy.

Thirteen patients with Fuchs' endothelial dystrophy were studied to measure the potential effects of topically applied dexamethasone on endothelial function. Endothelial permeability in the Fuchs' dystrophy patients was not different from that found in normal controls. One eye, chosen at random, was treated topically four times a day for 7 days with 0.1% dexamethasone phosphate. The contralateral eye was treated with a placebo of identical appearance. Prior to treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in the means of the intraocular pressure, corneal thickness, endothelial permeability, or endothelial pump rate between the dexamethasone- and placebo-treated groups. In the placebo-treated eyes, a significant decrease was observed in both endothelial permeability and endothelial pump rate over the course of the study. No statistically significant changes occurred in the dexamethasone-treated eyes over the same period. When the dexamethasone group was compared with the placebo group, there was a significant difference in the change in endothelial pump rate between the two groups, attributable in large part to the decrease in pump rate observed in the placebo group over the course of treatment. We interpret our data as lacking support for the concept that topical steroids are beneficial for the treatment of stromal edema in patients with Fuchs' dystrophy.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes