Abstract
Purpose: :
To study the effect of topical diclofenac 0.1% on postoperative blood-aqueous barrier breakdown following microcoaxial phacoemulsification.
Methods: :
Ninety-five patients with no eye disease other than cataract who underwent microcoaxial (2.2 mm) phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation were included in this study. After cataract surgery, all patients were treated only with topical diclofenac 0.1% four times daily for 4 weeks. No concomitant corticosteroid use was allowed. The inflammatory reaction in the anterior chamber was measured with laser flare photometry preoperatively and 1, 7, 14, and 28 days postoperatively.
Results: :
Mean preoperative aqueous flare (in photon counts per millisecond) was 8.01 +/- 3.18. Following cataract surgery, mean aqueous flare increased to 42.47 +/- 23.89 on day 1, and decreased to 17.98 +/- 10.43 on day 7, to 13.30 +/- 6.47 on day 14, and to 11.11 +/- 4.53 on day 28. No postoperative complications such as fibrin formation, synechiae, or endophthalmitis were observed in any of the patients. No significant side effects related to the study treatment were recorded.
Conclusions: :
Topical diclofenac can effectively be used without concurrent administration of corticosteroids to control postoperative inflammation after microcoaxial phacoemulsification.
Keywords: cataract • treatment outcomes of cataract surgery • anterior chamber