EFFICACY AND TOLERANCE OF DICLOFENAC SODIUM 0.1-PERCENT, FLURBIPROFEN0.03-PERCENT, AND INDOMETHACIN 1.0-PERCENT IN CONTROLLING POSTOPERATIVE INFLAMMATION

Purpose: To compare the anti-inflammatory effect of diclofenac sodium 0.1% ophthalmic solution, flurbiprofen 0.03% ophthalmic solution, and indomethacin 1.0%. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Koln, and Bundesknappschaftskrankenhaus, Sulzbach, Germany. Methods: One hundred seventeen patients enrolled in this prospective, randomize d, double-masked, and parallel-group study had phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation and received one of the three solutions . Preoperatively at day 1 and postoperatively at day 4 or 5 and day 12 , 13, or 14, they were examined by slitlamp, applanation tonometry, an d laser flare meter. Results: Anterior chamber flare reduction from ba seline was significantly greater in the diclofenac group than in the f lurbiprofen group (P = .022). Patients in the diclofenac group had sig nificantly less burning and stinging than those in the flurbiprofen an d indomethacin groups at postoperative days 4-5 and 12-14 (P = .001). Conclusion: Diclofenac sodium appeared to be more potent than flurbipr ofen in controlling intraocular inflammation after cataract surgery an d appeared to be locally tolerated better than flurbiprofen and indome thacin.