Betamethasone sodium phosphate

In the LASIK procedure, a microkeratome (MK-2000; Nidek, Aichi, Japan) with a 160-μm head was used to create an 8.5-mm corneal flap with a nasal hinge. Laser ablation was performed with a VISX Star S2 or Star S4 excimer laser (AMO, Santa Ana, CA, USA). In all procedures, a 6.0-mm optical zone and conventional ablation were used. After surgery, 0.1% fluorometholone and 0.5% levofloxacin eye drops were prescribed four times daily, starting the day after surgery, for 2 weeks, three times daily for 2 weeks, and then twice daily for 1 month.
In the PRK procedure, the central 6.0-mm diameter epithelium was ablated with an excimer laser. Laser ablation was performed with a VISX Star S or Star S2 excimer laser (AMO). After PRK laser treatment, a bandage soft contact lens was placed on the cornea. Eye drops containing 0.1% betamethasone sodium phosphate (Shionogi Pharmaceutical, Osaka, Japan) and 0.5% levofloxacin (Santen Pharmaceutical, Osaka, Japan) were prescribed four times daily starting the day after surgery for 2 weeks, After 2 weeks, the 0.1% betamethasone sodium phosphate eye drops were terminated, and 0.1% fluorometholone eye drops (Santen Pharmaceutical) were prescribed four times daily for 3 months, three times daily for 2 months, and then twice daily for 2 months.

For the glaucoma filtration surgery model, rabbits were anesthetized with an intramuscular injection of ketamine (15 mg/kg) (Daiichi Sankyo Propharma) and xylazine (10 mg/kg) (Bayer Yakuhin). An eyelid speculum was put in place, and the eye fixed with a corneal traction suture (7–0 Silk, Johnson & Johnson). We then injected xylocaine (0.3–0.5 ml) under the Tenon tissue as an additional local anesthesia, and made a 6-mm fornix-based conjunctival flap with the Tenon’s capsule, 5 mm in length. Next, we made a 3 × 3 mm fornix-based scleral flap and placed 0.04% mitomycin C (Kyowa Kirin) into the conjunctival pocket for 3 min, which was then washed away with 50 ml of saline. Finally, we created a 2 × 1 mm scleral window at the limbus and performed a peripheral iridectomy, followed by a conjunctival suture with 10–0 nylon (MANI) and the injection of 0.5 ml dexamethasone into the subconjunctiva. After surgery, 0.3% ofloxacin ointment (Santen Pharmaceutical) was applied to the eye. Topical administrations of 0.1% betamethasone sodium phosphate (SHIONOGI) and 0.5% levofloxacin hydrate ophthalmic solution (Santen Pharmaceutical) were applied three times a day for three days postoperatively. All surgeries were performed by the same researcher (K.M).