USE OF TOPICAL NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS AFTER REFRACTIVE KERATECTOMY

BACKGROUND. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) requires a careful pharm acologic regimen during the postoperative period to reduce corneal haz e and refractive myopic regression. Noncorticosteroidal anti-inflammat ory drugs limit postablative corneal inflammation without the complica tions that may occur during corticosteroid treatment. METHODS. Twenty consecutive eyes of 10 patients with attempted correction ranging from 4.00 to 9.00 D of myopia were studied. During the postoperative perio d, corticosteroid drops (dexamethosone 0.1%) were instilled in the fir st eye of each patient, and the second eye was treated with diclofenac sodium ophthalmic solution 0.1% (Voltaren). Follow-up was 12 months a fter surgery. RESULTS. Corneal haze and refraction were studied. Six o f the 10 eyes treated with noncorticosteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs did not show any significant difference in corneal haze and refractiv e evolution compared to the contralateral eyes treated with corticoste roids. Two eyes (20%) showed less corneal haze and more refractive sta bility than the contralateral eyes. In two eyes (20%), we observed sim ilar corneal haze but more refractive regression than in the contralat eral eves. CONCLUSIONS. Eyes treated with topical diclofenac sodium ha d a similar postoperative course as those treated with corticosteroids , but without the adverse effects of corticosteroids. Topical nonstero idal anti-inflammatory drugs are represented by diclofenac (Voltaren), which has significant ocular penetration. This permits reduction of t he possibility of general and ocular complications that frequently occ ur with corticosteroids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the eff icacy of topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs vs. corticosteroi dal eyedrops after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) to reduce moderat e and high myopia.