Incidence of cystoid macular edema after retinal detachment surgery and the use of topical indomethacin.

We conducted a prospective, double-masked, controlled study to determine the effects of indomethacin in preventing the development of cystoid macular edema after retinal detachment surgery. In addition to routine medication, topical indomethacin was applied to 63 eyes (52 with intact lenses and 11 aphakic) and a placebo was applied to 61 eyes (51 with intact lenses and ten aphakic) that underwent retinal detachment surgery. Indomethacin drops or placebo were instilled once an hour for five hours preoperatively and three times daily for four weeks postoperatively. Fluorescein angiography, done before surgery and four to six weeks after surgery to detect cystoid macular edema, showed that cystoid macular edema developed in 11 of 63 eyes (13%) in the indomethacin-treated group and in 20 of 61 eyes (33%) in the placebo group (P less than .01). Five of 28 eyes (18%) with cystoid macular edema in both groups and 38 of 96 eyes (40%) without cystoid macular edema in both groups had visual acuities of 20/40 or better (P less than .05).