Ketorolac tromethamine LS 0.4% versus nepafenac 0.1% in patients having cataract surgery. Prospective randomized...

To compare the clinical, subjective, and objective outcomes of the use of 2 topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs--ketorolac tromethamine LS 0.4% (Acular) and nepafenac 0.1% (Nevanac)--in patients having cataract surgery.

Single-center private practice, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.

One hundred eighty-three patients (193 eyes) with visually significant cataract were recruited for the study. Consenting patients were randomized to a standard regimen of Acular, gatifloxacin 0.3% (Zymar), and prednisolone acetate 1% (Pred Forte) (ketorolac group) or Nevanac, moxifloxacin hydrochloride 0.5% (Vigamox), and prednisolone acetate (Econopred) (nepafenac group). Analysis included subjective complaints (burning, itching, foreign-body sensation, pain level after surgery) and objective findings (visual function, degree of inflammation in the anterior segment, complications).

The ketorolac group consisted of 94 patients (100 eyes) and the nepafenac group, 89 patients (93 eyes). The between-group differences in visual outcomes and anterior chamber inflammation were not statistically significant (mean P = .33). There was a higher incidence of posterior capsule opacification in the nepafenac group (P = 0.019). Patient satisfaction, patient compliance, and postoperative pain control were statistically significantly better in the ketorolac group (P = .022, P = .023, and P = .025, respectively).

Ketorolac tromethamine was statistically significantly better than nepafenac in terms of patient satisfaction, compliance, and postoperative pain control.