A new clinical study suggests that a high-potency steroid eye drop may significantly reduce inflammation and pain following cataract surgery.¹

Researchers reported that clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05% (CPN 0.05; Byqlovi, Harrow) successfully controlled postoperative inflammation and discomfort in patients recovering from cataract procedures, while maintaining a favorable safety profile. The findings were published in Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. 

Researchers examined two multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled phase 3 trials (CPN-301 and CPN-302), identical in design except for a corneal endothelial cell (EC) safety sub-study in CPN-302. Post surgery, participants were randomized to CPN 0.05% (N=366) or placebo (N=382) instilled 1 drop twice daily (BID) for 14 days into the operated eye. 

CPN 0.05% met the primary endpoints, producing rapid and sustained clearance of inflammation and absence of ocular pain that was statistically significantly greater than placebo. At post-operative day 15, 58.2% of CPN 0.05% participants and 17.3% of placebo participants had an anterior chamber cell count of 0 (P<0.001), and 88.5% of CPN 0.05% participants and 45.8% of placebo participants had an ocular pain grade of0 (p<0.001). By post-operative day 4, visual acuity had improved more rapidly on CPN 0.05% than on placebo (p<0.001).

CPN 0.05% was well-tolerated with a safety profile similar to placebo. There were no meaningful IOP increases or corneal endothelial cell changes in CPN 0.05%-treated participants.

Reference

1. Berdahl JP, Holland EJ, Lindstrom RL, et al. Clobetasol propionate ophthalmic suspension 0.05% for the treatment of ocular inflammation and pain after cataract surgery. Ophthalmology. 2026;S0161-6420(26)00303-9. doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2026.03.039.