Rate of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema using intraoperative and topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs alone...

To determine the rate of postoperative cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients undergoing cataract surgery treated with intraoperative intracameral and postoperative topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without steroids.

Academic outpatient surgery center Wake Forest Baptist Health in Bermuda Run, NC.

Retrospective cohort study.

A retrospective chart review was performed. Patients were identified through a medical record search tool using criteria of the Current Procedural Terminology code (66984), a single surgeon, and a date range from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017. Medical records were reviewed to determine intraoperative and postoperative medication regimen, visual outcome, and development of postoperative CME. Patients with a history of uveitis, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusions, epiretinal membranes, vitreomacular traction, or any prior macular edema were excluded. In addition, any patients with less than 6 weeks of postoperative follow-up were excluded.

Overall, 824 patient records were reviewed, and the analysis included 504 eyes. Of these, 2 eyes developed postoperative CME (rate = 0.40%, 95% CI 0.0005 to 0.0143).

The rate of CME in patients treated with intraoperative and postoperative NSAIDs without steroids was low and below the historical rates derived from a literature review of CME development with the use of steroids.