Steroids for Corneal Ulcers (SCUT)

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  Can you count on corticosteroids to do the scutwork in bacterial keratitis? In the 2012 SCUT study, patients with known bacterial corneal ulcers were randomized to treatment with prednisolone (n = 250) and placebo (n = 250) 48 hours after receiving Vigamox. 

Key Points:

• In the full population, there was no statistical difference in outcomes between the two groups. 
• For patients with more severe presentation (e.g., CF or worse vision, central ulcers), corticosteroids led to an approximate 2-line improvement.

Overall, the SCUT study is a landmark study because it showed that topical corticosteroids were not dangerous in the treatment of bacterial corneal ulcers and actually led to improved outcomes in a subset of patients with more severe presentations.