A randomized trial of topical corticosteroids in epithelial healing after keratoplasty

A prospective randomized trial evaluating the effect of topical 1% prednisolone acetate on epithelial defects after keratoplasty in 39 patients (18 in the untreated group and 21 in the treated group) failed to reveal any significant differences in healing between the two groups (p less than 0.16 to p less than 0.54 on post-operative days 1-5). The mean time needed for complete healing was 1.94 days in the untreated group and 2.81 days in the steroid treated group (p less than 0.09). Patients given subconjunctival methylprednisolone sodium succinate had larger initial defects (mean 33.5 mm2) than those not given subconjunctival steroids (mean 16.1 mm2), but the time for complete epithelial healing did not differ significantly (2.75 days vs. 1.91 days; p less than 0.14). As clinically used post-keratoplasty topical steroids do not appear to significantly delay epithelial healing in most patients.