Difluprednate (Durezol) is a corticosteroid used in ophthalmology. Which option best describes it?

• A. Steroid
• B. Antibiotic
• C. NSAID
• D. Anesthetic

Answer: (A)

Difluprednate is a corticosteroid, an anti-inflammatory medication used inEye care to reduce inflammation. It works by activating glucocorticoid receptors in ocular tissues, which dampens multiple steps of the inflammatory response—lowering production of inflammatory mediators, decreasing leukocyte migration, and reducing vascular permeability. This containment of inflammation relieves redness, swelling, and pain after surgeries or in inflammatory eye conditions. It is not an antibiotic, which targets bacteria; nor an NSAID, which blocks prostaglandin synthesis via COX enzymes; nor an anesthetic, which blocks nerve signals to numb tissue. Because steroids can raise intraocular pressure and slow healing with long-term use, they’re used with careful monitoring and typically for limited durations.