INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE-RAISING POTENTIAL OF 1.0-PERCENT RIMEXOLONE IN PATIENTS RESPONDING TO CORTICOSTEROIDS

Objective: To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP) elevating potenti al of 1.0% rimexolone and 0.1% fluorometholone alcohol ophthalmic susp ensions in patients known to have responded to corticosteroids. Design : In a double-masked, randomized, single-eye, crossover protocol, cort icosteroid responsiveness initially was verified in 40 asymptomatic kn own steroid responders by challenge with either 0.1% dexamethasone sod ium phosphate or 1.0% prednisolone acetate for up to 6 weeks. After a 1-month medication washout, subjects randomly received either rimexolo ne or fluorometholone for 6 weeks. Medications were again discontinued for 1 month, and subjects then received the alternate drug for 6 week s. Results: There was no significant difference between rimexolone and fluorometholone in the number of subjects demonstrating a 10-mm Hg in crease in IOP or in the mean number of weeks required to achieve a 10- mm Hg response. Responses occurred in significantly more subjects rece iving dexamethasone sodium phosphate (P=.001) or prednisolone acetate (P<.001) and in a significantly shorter interval than in subjects rece iving rimexolone. Conclusions: Rimexolone has a low IOP-elevating pote ntial, comparable to that of fluorometholone and less than that of dex amethasone sodium phosphate and prednisolone acetate.