Subconjunctival dexamethasone in routine cataract surgery

For many years, some eye surgeons have given patients having cataract surgery an injection of dexamethasone (a type of cortisone or steroid) into the surface of the eye (subconjunctival) at the end of surgery. Dexamethasone is approved in Australia to treat inflammation of the eye during and following eye surgery. Some surgeons believe the injections are not needed because: 1. The steroid drops are usually enough to help the eye recover 2. The injection can occasionally hurt Others surgeons use the injection because: 1. It seems to makes patients’ eyes more comfortable for the first few days after surgery 2. It may help vision to improve faster after surgery by reducing the risk of macular oedema (swelling of the central part of the retina) This study will not determine whether a patient receives a dexamethasone injection but will look at the outcomes of surgery. From this, we hope to show how useful it is to give a subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone at the time of cataract surgery.