Short-Term Intraocular Pressure Changes After 0.1% Fluorometholone in Pediatric Strabismus Surgery

Kenta Hozumi,1 Teiji Yagasaki,1,2 Yoshimi Yokoyama1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Japan Community HealthCare Organization (JCHO) Chukyo Hospital, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan; 2Yagasaki Eye Clinic, Ichinomiya, Aichi, JapanCorrespondence: Kenta Hozumi, Department of Ophthalmology, Japan Community HealthCare Organization (JCHO) Chukyo Hospital, 1-1-10 Sanjo, Minami-ku, Nagoya, Aichi, 457-8510, Japan, Tel +81 52 691 7151, Fax +81 52 692 5220, Email hozumikenta@gmail.comPurpose: To investigate the effect of 0.1% fluorometholone ophthalmic solution (FM) on intraocular pressure (IOP) in children after strabismus surgery.Patients and Methods: We included 224 eyes of 224 children aged < 15 years who underwent strabismus surgery at JCHO Chukyo Hospital from January 2014 to December 2023, received FM four times daily in the operated eye for 1 month postoperatively, and underwent IOP measurement using a non-contact tonometer NT-530Ⓡ (NIDEK Co. Ltd. Aichi, Japan). We assessed pre- and postoperative IOPs, postoperative changes in IOP, the number of children with a postoperative increase of > 6 mmHg in the IOP, and the number of children with a postoperative IOP > 20 mmHg.Results: The participants included 106 boys and 118 girls, with a mean age of 8.6 years. The mean pre- and postoperative IOPs were 14.7 ± 2.4 mmHg and 14.8 ± 3.3 mmHg, respectively, with no significant difference (p = 0.552). At 1 month postoperatively, 8 eyes (3.6%) had an increase of > 6 mmHg, 14 eyes (6.3%) had a postoperative IOP > 20 mmHg, and 3 eyes (1.3%) had both.Conclusion: Short-term use of FM may not significantly increase IOP and may be considered safe for anti-inflammatory treatment in pediatric patients after strabismus surgery.Keywords: pediatric ophthalmology, steroid responder, strabismus surgery, postoperative complication, subconjunctival dexamethasone