A randomized, prospective, multicenter study evaluated the efficacy an
d safety of using collagen shields to deliver drugs after cataract sur
gery. Collagen shields saturated with an antibiotic and a steroid were
placed in 90 eyes postoperatively. A control group of 93 eyes receive
d the same drugs through a peribulbar/retrobulbar injection. One day a
fter surgery, the shield group had significantly less corneal edema, c
onjunctival hemorrhaging, and postoperative pain and fewer corneal opa
cities. All symptoms except the conjunctival hemorrhaging disappeared
by day seven. Our study suggests that using collagen shields for drug
delivery after cataract surgery decreases tissue damage and increases
patient comfort without adverse side effects.