To compare the surgical outcomes and intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction after trabeculectomy in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) according to treatment with three different postoperative topical steroids.

A total of 84 eyes of 84 patients who had undergone trabeculectomy for POAG and were followed-up at least 1 year were included in this study. According to the postoperative topical steroid treatment, the patients were divided into three groups involving 0.5% loteprednol etabonate (LE), 1% rimexolone (RMX), and 1% prednisolone acetate (PDA). The mean IOP change, mean number of topical anti-glaucoma medication changes, 1-year success rate, and complication percentage were compared among the three groups.

There were significant reductions in the IOP and number of anti-glaucoma medications during the postoperative 1-year follow-up in all of the groups (all, p < 0.05), but there were no differences among the three groups. Postoperative 1-year success rates (68.2% in the LE group, 67.0% in the RMX group, and 65.9% in the PDA group; p = 0.88) and complication percentages of trabeculectomy were not significantly different among the three groups.

There were no statistical differences in the 1-year success rate, complication percentage, visual acuity, IOP, and number of anti-glaucoma medications among treatment regimens. LE and RMX were as effective and safe as PDA after trabeculectomy in patients with POAG.