A comparison of topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to steroids for control of post cataract inflammation.

Fifty patients undergoing phacoemulsification with posterior chamber intraocular lens implantation were randomly assigned to receive either diclofenac sodium 0.1% eye drops (Voltaren Ophthalmic, CibaVision Ophthalmics, Duluth, GA) or prednisolone acetate 1.0% eye drops (Pred Forte, Allergan Pharmaceuticals, Irvine, CA) as their postoperative anti-inflammatory medication. The patients were examined one day, one week, and one month after surgery, and their postoperative inflammation was evaluated both by slit lamp assessment of cell and flare, and by objective measurement of cell and flare with the Kowa FC-1000 laser cell and flare meter. At each visit, the level of postoperative inflammation was the same for the two study groups. Thus diclofenac sodium was as effective an anti-inflammatory agent for postoperative inflammation as prednisolone acetate.