ABSTRACT
Introduction: Phacosmulsification with IOL implantationis currently the procedure of choice for cataract surgeryas it offers the best visual results. Two main groups ofdrugs used to control postoperative inflammation followingcataract surgery are NSAIDS, which directly inhibit the coxenzymes and topical corticosteroids, which act at the level ofphospholipase A2. Study objective was to compare the efficacyof 0.05% difluprednate emulsion and 1% prednisolone acetatesuspension on post phaco inflammation.Material and methods: 80 patients undergoingphacoemulsification in tertiary health care centre wererandomly divided into 2 groups. Postoperatively, patients ingroup A were put on 0.05% difluprednate eye drops whilegroup B were put on 1%prednisolone acetate eye drops for 42days each. At each visit evaluation was done for BCVA, IOP,ocular pain grading, slit lamp for aqueous cells/ flare score.Results: At end of study, 97.5% patients in group A and 95%patients in group B had BCVA of 6/6. None of patients inany group showed significant rise in IOP >21mmHg. 95%patients in both groups showed ocular pain grade of 1 while2% patients in group A and 1% in group B showed ocular paingrade of 2. 97.5%in group A and 95% in group B presentedwith 100% aqueous cell clearing while 97.5% patients in bothgroups and showed flare score 0 at last follow up.Conclusion: Topical 0.05%difluprednate ophthalmicemulsion is as effective as 1% prednisolone acetate in treatingpost phacoemulsification inflammation with the advantage ofuniform drug dosage and no preservative.