Preoperative topical NSAID yields improved phaco efficiency

Washington, DC-The introduction of a topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) 3 days before phacoemulsification produced excellent results in terms of surgical efficacy and outcomes, according to Eric D. Donnenfeld, MD, at the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery annual meeting.

He found that treatment with ketorolac begun 3 days before surgery significantly improved the maintenance of pupil size, phacoemulsification time and energy, operative time, corneal clarity, postoperative inflammation, and intraoperative and postoperative discomfort.

Outcomes with treatment begun 3 days before surgery were significantly better (p < 0.01) than results with treatment begun 1 day in advance, which in turn were significantly better than either when treatment was begun 1 hour before surgery or when patients were given placebo (p < 0.01), said Dr. Donnenfeld, who is also a partner in a private practice in Long Island, NY.

Primary outcome measures were as follows: