Topical corticosteroids
Corticosteroids are used to control postoperative
inflammation. Clinically, this is commonly seen
as cystoid macular edema (CME). Surgical factors
such as longer operative times, prior surgery, extensive
procedures and younger age may be associated
with increased inflammation. Patients with small
incision phacoemulsification cataract surgery often
have little inflammation after 4 weeks of treatment
with topical corticosteroids. Patients with larger
wounds requiring manual expression of the nucleus can have visible inflammation for up to 8 weeks.
Diabetic patients may show more prolonged postoperative
inflammation due to increased compromise
of the blood–aqueous barrier [32&&].