Effect of Topical Nepafenac on Central Foveal Thickness following Panretinal Photocoagulation in Diabetic Patients

PURPOSE: To evaluate effectiveness of topical nepafenac in reducing macular edema following panretinal photocoagulation (PRP). DESIGN: Prospective randomized double-blinded controlled study. METHODS: Sixty eyes of 60 patients having proliferative or severe nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy had PRP. Patients were then divided into two groups: nepafenac group (30 eyes) receiving 1% topical nepafenac eye drops for 6 months and control group (30 eyes) receiving carboxymethylcellulose eye drops for 6 months. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular optical coherence tomography were followed up at 1, 2, 4, and 6 months after PRP. RESULTS: BCVA was significantly better in nepafenac group than in control group at all follow-ups (P < 0.01). At 6 months post-PRP, logMAR BCVA was 0.11 ± 0.04 (equivalent to 20/26 Snellen acuity) in the nepafenac group and 0.18 ± 0.08 (equivalent to 20/30 Snellen acuity) in the control group (P < 0.01). Central foveal thickness (CFT) increased in both groups from the first month after PRP. Increase in CFT was higher in control group than in nepafenac group throughout follow-up, but the difference became statistically significant only after 4 months. No significant ocular adverse events were reported with topical nepafenac. CONCLUSION: Topical nepafenac can minimize macular edema and stabilize visual acuity following PRP for diabetic patients.