TOPICAL DICLOFENAC SODIUM AFTER EXCIMER-LASER PHOTOTHERAPEUTIC KERATECTOMY

BACKGROUND: Both the potential analgesic effects and side-effects of t opical diclofenac sodium 0.1% are points of interest after excimer las er phototherapeutic keratectomy. METHODS: Excimer laser phototherapeut ic keratectomy was performed in 134 eyes of 134 patients. In 65 eyes ( 65 patients), the effects of topical diclofenac given three times a da y for 3 to 4 days were compared to a control group of 69 eyes (69 pati ents). All patients received paracetamol for systemic analgesia and we re patched after surgery until reepithelialization. RESULTS: Twenty-ei ght patients (43%) of the diclofenac group needed additional systemic analgesics compared to 67 patients (95%) in the control group. Seventy -two hours after surgery we found no significant differences in cornea l epithelial wound healing and no severe complications. CONCLUSION: To pical diclofenac sodium reduces postoperative pain in patients after p hototherapeutic keratectomy.