Comparison of Efficacy of Nepafenac 0.3% and Nepafenac 0.1% to Prevent and Control Postoperative Pain and Conjunctival Redness After Cataract Surgery: A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Purpose: To compare the efficacy of nepafenac 0.3% with nepafenac 0.1% to control postoperative pain and conjunctival redness after cataract surgery.
 Study Design: Randomized control trial
 Place and Duration: Ophthalmology Department, DHQ Teaching Hospital, Gujranwala from November 2020 to January 2021.
 Materials and Methods: A prospective review of 70 patients operated for age-related cataract was done. Patients were divided into two equal groups. Group A patients were given Ilevro eye drops (nepafenac 0.3%) once a day and group B patients were instilled Nevanac eye drops (nepafenac 0.1%) thrice a day. All patients were scored for ocular pain and conjunctival redness on basis of pre-defined scales on one day before surgery and on 1st, 7th and 14th postoperative day. Results from both groups were analyzed and compared using SPSS v 25.0.
 Results: Out of 70 patients, 35 were put in group A and 35 into group B. Overall 37 (52.8%) patients were male and 33 (47.2%) were female. Patients above 40 years of age were 33 (94.3%) in group A and 35 (100%) in group B. Patients having pain score ≥5 were 30 (85.7%) in group A and 25 (71.4%) in group B on 1st postoperative day, with ≥3 were 1 (2.8%) in group A and 33 (94.2%) in group B at 7th postoperative day and zero on 14th postoperative day. Patients with conjunctival redness ≥2 were 31 (88.6%) in group A and 29 (82.9%) in group B on 1st postoperative day, with ≥1 were 18 (51.3%) in group A and 28 (79.9%) in group B on 7th postoperative day while four (11.4%) in group A and one (2.8%) in group B on 14th postoperative day. Conclusion: Effect of once daily nepafenac 0.3% on postoperative pain and conjunctival redness was found to be sub-rated against thrice daily nepafenac 0.1% on 1st postoperative day. However, this effect became equal and then slightly superior to that of nepafenac 0.1% on 7th and 14th postoperative days.
 Key Words: Cataract Surgery, Nepafenac, Postoperative Pain, Conjunctival Redness