Asaf Achiron1,2, Lily Karmona1,2, Michael Mimouni3, Assaf Gershoni2,4, Yana Dzhanov1,2, Zvi Gur5, Zvia Burgansky1,2. 1. 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The Edith Wolfson Medical Center , Holon, Israel . 2. 2 Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel . 3. 3 Department of Ophthalmology, Rambam Health Care Campus , Haifa, Israel . 4. 4 Department of Ophthalmology, Rabin Medical Center , Petah Tikva, Israel . 5. 5 Department of Ophthalmology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University , Beer-Sheva, Israel .
Abstract
PURPOSE: Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for the prevention and treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. Preservative-free diclofenac and nepafenac drops are commonly used ophthalmic NSAIDs. The purpose of this study was to compare the tolerability of diclofenac to that of nepafenac. METHODS: In this prospective patient-blinded study, consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery were included. One drop of nepafenac 0.1% and diclofenac sodium 0.1% were instilled in the right and left eyes, respectively, one immediately after the other, 1 day before surgery. Visual analog scale (scale 0-10) was used to measure patient discomfort, itching, burning, and pain at 1 second (s), 15 s, 1 minute (min), and 5 min postadministration. RESULTS: Overall, 44 eyes of 22 patients were included in this study. Diclofenac and nepafenac had high and similar tolerability at all time points with no significant difference regarding all aspects of tolerability. A vast majority of patients (72%) did not prefer 1 drop over the other in terms of overall comfort. CONCLUSIONS: Both diclofenac and nepafenac seem to have similar high tolerability. Diclofenac may be an affordable alternative to nepafenac and therefore should be considered by prescribing physicians, specifically in preoperative cataract patients.
PURPOSE: Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely used for the prevention and treatment of inflammation and pain following cataract surgery. Preservative-free diclofenac and nepafenac drops are commonly used ophthalmic NSAIDs. The purpose of this study was to compare the tolerability of diclofenac to that of nepafenac. METHODS: In this prospective patient-blinded study, consecutive patients undergoing cataract surgery were included. One drop of nepafenac 0.1% and diclofenac sodium 0.1% were instilled in the right and left eyes, respectively, one immediately after the other, 1 day before surgery. Visual analog scale (scale 0-10) was used to measure patient discomfort, itching, burning, and pain at 1 second (s), 15 s, 1 minute (min), and 5 min postadministration. RESULTS: Overall, 44 eyes of 22 patients were included in this study. Diclofenac and nepafenac had high and similar tolerability at all time points with no significant difference regarding all aspects of tolerability. A vast majority of patients (72%) did not prefer 1 drop over the other in terms of overall comfort. CONCLUSIONS: Both diclofenac and nepafenac seem to have similar high tolerability. Diclofenac may be an affordable alternative to nepafenac and therefore should be considered by prescribing physicians, specifically in preoperative cataractpatients.