Ocular pressure response to fluorometholone acetate and dexamethasone sodium phosphate

The intraocular pressure elevating potentials of fluorometholone acetate ophthalmic suspension and dexamethasone sodium phosphate ophthalmic solution were compared in human subjects who were previously documented to respond to dexamethasone sodium phosphate. In this double-masked, crossover study of 17 subjects, the same eye of each subject was dosed with both steroids, instillation of the second steroid following a one-month washout period. The length of time necessary to respond with an increase of 10 mmHg was ascertained. The mean response time for fluorometholone acetate was four weeks and for dexamethasone sodium phosphate, three weeks. This difference, in favor of fluorometholone acetate, is statistically significant.