The efficacy of 2.5% phenylephrine and flurbiprofen combined in inducing and maintaining pupillary dilatation during cataract surgery

PURPOSE. TO evaluate the effectiveness of phenylephrine 2.5% and flurbiprof en 0.03% combined in inducing and maintaining mydriasis during extracapsula r cataract extraction (ECCE). METHODS. One hundred patients undergoing ECCE + intraocular lens (IOL) impl antation were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was given phenylphrine 10%, the second group phenylephrine 10% + flurbiprofen, the th ird group phenylephrine 2.5% and fourth group phenylephrine 2.5% + flurbipr ofen. Cyclopentolate 1% was used in ail patients. Phenylephrine and cyclope ntolate were instilled preoperatively four times during I hour and flurbipr ofen was given four times the day before surgery and twice with an hour's i nterval before operation. Pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration horizont al pupil diameters were measured with callipers Viewed through the operatin g microscope. RESULTS. Pupil diameters in pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration were n o different in the 2.5% and 10% phenylephrine groups (p>0.05). Both diamete rs were larger and pupillary constriction was smaller in the flurbiprofen g roups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS. 2.5% phenylephrine was as effective as 10% phenylephrine, with and without flurbiprofen, in inducing and maintaining pupil dilatation dur ing ECCE surgery.