Comparison of 1% Prednisolone and 0.1% Bromfenac Solutions for Preventing Macular Edema after Cataract Surgery

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical effectiveness of 1% Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic solution and 0.1% Bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution on prevention of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 349 patients who received phacoemulsification with intraocular lens implantation in Severance Hospital from July 2013 to January 2016 was performed. In these patients, 192 eyes received 1% Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic solution, and 157 eyes were treated with topical 0.1% Bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution. The incidence and severity of cystoid macular edema (CME) were evaluated by retinal foveal thickness on optical coherence tomography for patients who showed best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) less than 0.5 (log MAR ≥ 0.3). RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups in age (p = 0.708), sex (p = 0.977), or the side of operated eye (p = 0.443). The two groups showed BCVA 0.04 ± 0.09 (Steroid group) and 0.03 ± 0.07 (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug [NSAID] group) at 1 month after the surgery and the difference was not significant (p = 0.947). One eye in the topical steroid group had cystoid macular edema, and 3 eyes in the steroid group showed elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) over 30 mm Hg. There were no IOP elevations or macular edema in the NSAID group. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that 0.1% Bromfenac sodium hydrate ophthalmic solution had a similar effect to 1% Prednisolone acetate ophthalmic solution on preventing CME after cataract surgery. This indicates that topical NSAID can be considered along with topical steroids in order to prevent CME after cataract surgery.