Mk. Tutton et al., EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF TOPICAL DICLOFENAC IN REDUCING OCULAR PAIN AFTER EXCIMER PHOTOREFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY, Journal of cataract and refractive surgery, 22(5), 1996, pp. 536-541
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of diclofenac sodium 0.1%
ophthalmic solution in patients having myopic photorefractive keratec
tomy (PRK). Setting: Corneal Laser Centre, Clatterbridge Hospital, Wir
ral, United Kingdom.Methods: We performed a prospective, randomized, d
ouble-masked, parallel-group, placebo-controlled study of 50 patients
(diclofenac 25, placebo 25) of both sexes who had myopic excimer laser
PRK. Results were evaluated by several types of questionnaires and co
mprehensive clinical examination on the day of the procedure and 1 and
3 to 14 days postoperatively. Results: Diclofenac-treated patients ex
perienced significantly less photophobia, burning/stinging, and ocular
pain and took significantly fewer oral narcotic analgesics over the f
irst 24 hours postoperatively than placebo-treated patients. Conclusio
n: Topical diclofenac significantly reduced the ocular pain and discom
fort immediately after excimer PRK without any clinically significant
complications or adverse effects.