PURPOSE: To study the effect of the topical Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Flurbiprofen 0.03%, as an alternative to the topical steroids for the postoperative control of inflammation in cataract surgeries. METHODS: The effect of the topical NSAID, flurbiprofen sodium 0.03%, was studied and compared with that of the topical steroid - Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% suspension (as eye drops) in a prospective, open labelled study. Both the groups (20 patients each) were similar in the baseline parameters. The postoperative inflammatory response following the standard, small incision, extra capsular cataract extraction was assessed in both the groups for 28 post-operative days. The parameters which were considered for the study were conjunctival hyperaemia, ciliary congestion, corneal oedema, cells in the anterior chamber, aqueous flare and ocular pain. The severity of the postoperative inflammatory responses for both the drugs was graded on the post-operative days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and it was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The 2 groups did not differ statistically in the effect of the treatment for any of the variables, which included aqueous cells, flare, ciliary congestion and conjunctival congestion (p< 0.001). Both the drugs were well tolerated and no severe adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) were caused by the topical NSAID and the topical steroid. CONCLUSION: The topical NSAID, Flurbiprofen, is as effective as the topical corticosteroid, Loteprednol and it can be used as an alternative in the routine postoperative treatment following uncomplicated cataract surgeries.
PURPOSE: To study the effect of the topical Non-Steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drug (NSAID), Flurbiprofen 0.03%, as an alternative to the topical steroids for the postoperative control of inflammation in cataract surgeries. METHODS: The effect of the topical NSAID, flurbiprofen sodium 0.03%, was studied and compared with that of the topical steroid - Loteprednol etabonate 0.5% suspension (as eye drops) in a prospective, open labelled study. Both the groups (20 patients each) were similar in the baseline parameters. The postoperative inflammatory response following the standard, small incision, extra capsular cataract extraction was assessed in both the groups for 28 post-operative days. The parameters which were considered for the study were conjunctival hyperaemia, ciliary congestion, corneal oedema, cells in the anterior chamber, aqueous flare and ocular pain. The severity of the postoperative inflammatory responses for both the drugs was graded on the post-operative days 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 and it was statistically analyzed. RESULTS: The 2 groups did not differ statistically in the effect of the treatment for any of the variables, which included aqueous cells, flare, ciliary congestion and conjunctival congestion (p< 0.001). Both the drugs were well tolerated and no severe adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) were caused by the topical NSAID and the topical steroid. CONCLUSION: The topical NSAID, Flurbiprofen, is as effective as the topical corticosteroid, Loteprednol and it can be used as an alternative in the routine postoperative treatment following uncomplicated cataract surgeries.