Effect of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs versus topical steroids after strabismus surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the effect of topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) with topical steroid in conjunctival inflammation, wound healing, and intraocular pressure when used after strabismus surgery. METHODS: Twenty five patients who received bilateral horizontal rectus muscle recession were selected. 0.1% prednisolone acetate (Optilon(R), Chongkundang Pharma Corporation) was applied to the right eye of each patient and 0.1% pranoprofen (Pranopulon(R), Choongwae Pharmacology Corporation) was applied to the left eye four times a day after surgery. Both eyes were compared at one day, 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery to measure the extent of inflammation (injection, chemosis, discharge), pain and conjunctival incisional healing. The intraocular pressure was compared at the day before surgery and 1 week, 2 weeks and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The steroid group showed earlier improvement of inflammation and pain and faster conjunctival incisional healing than the NSAID group (p>0.1). The steroid group showed a significantly higher IOP than the NSAIDs group throughout the periods (p<0.001), and showed a progressive increasement in IOP during the study periods (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Topical NSAIDs were proved to be as effective as topical steroids in controlling inflammation and pain, and in the healing of conjunctival wounds. In addition, topical NSAIDs showed no side effect of increasing IOP. Therefore, topical NSAIDs may be a safe alternative to topical steroids after strabismus surgery in children who have difficulty in measuring IOP.