Use of Dexamethasone in Eye Disease

Dexamethasone is the newest corticosteroid preparation to be introduced in ophthalmology. The indications for the use of dexamethasone in ophthalmology are similar to those for the other corticosteroid preparations. Therapy with dexamethasone is symptomatic therapy, and the indications for its use in ophthalmology are inflammation, allergy, edema, granulation tissue, and certain infections. More specifically, the common diseases for which dexamethasone therapy is indicated are as follows: orbital pseudotumor, exophthalmos, blepharitis, acute inflammation of meibomian glands, conjunctivitis, retention granuloma, episcleritis, scleritis, keratitis, corneal ulcer, ocular allergies, herpes zoster, uveitis (iritis, iridocyclitis, and choroiditis), sympathetic ophthalmia, optic and retrobulbar neuritis, certain retinopathies, perivasculitis, temporal arteritis, and postoperative reactions. In the presence of infection, concomitant use of an antimicrobial is mandatory. The local contraindications to use of dexamethasone in ophthalmology are keratitis due to the virus of herpes simplex and certain exanthemas, as well as keratitis due to fungi. The exanthemas which are