Topical nepafenac 0.1% alone versus prednisolone acetate 1% as postoperative anti-inflammatory agents in small gauge vitrectomy

AIM: To compare the efficacy of postoperative topical nepafenac (0.1%) with prednisolone acetate (1%) as anti-inflammatory agents in eyes undergoing Transscleral Sutureless Vitrectomy (TSV). SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective, double-blind, randomized, single center clinical study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty eyes of 76 subjects, who underwent small gauge vitrectomy, were included in the study. The subjects who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were randomized to either topical nepafenac only (Group 1) or prednisolone acetate only (Group 2), to be used as postoperative anti-inflammatory agents. The subjects were reviewed on days 1, 30, and 90. Ocular and adnexal inflammation was appropriately graded using the standardized classification. Grading of ocular pain was done on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: The Wilcoxon rank-sum test, using two-sided analysis, was used. RESULTS: During the follow-up, both Group 1 and Group 2 did not have a significant difference related to the grade of the anterior chamber inflammation (P > 0.05) or adnexal inflammation (P > 0.05). Pain perception was less in the subjects in Group 1 as compared to subjects in Group 2, but was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Postoperative topical nepafenac was non-inferior to prednisolone acetate in reducing postoperative ocular inflammation in eyes undergoing TSV.