To compare the effect of loteprednol etabonate (LE) with prednisolone acetate (PDA) drops on the proliferation of human Tenon's capsule fibroblasts (HTFBs).

Primarily cultured HTFBs were treated with serially diluted PDA and LE for 3 days. Cellular survival was determined by a rapid colorimetric assay using MTT. RT-PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of TGF-β mRNA in response to LE and PDA.

PDA inhibited proliferation of HTCF in a dose-dependent manner and LE inhibited significantly the proliferation of HTCF at the higher concentration of 50 µg/ml ( p < 0.05). Compared to LE, PDA inhibited proliferation of HTCF significantly at each diluted concentration ( p < 0.05). Expressions of TGF-β were decreased as the concentration of both PDA and LE increased. PDA decreased expression of TGF-β more significantly compared to LE at each concentration ( p < 0.05).

Although LE has offered promising anti-inflammatory efficacy with decreased impact on intraocular pressure, LE may be less effective than PDA in inhibiting fibroblast proliferation and may be not comparable to PDA in preventing excessive scarring after glaucoma filtering surgery.