Efficacy of Nepafenac versus Flurbiprofen in Maintaining Intraoperative Mydriasis During Phacoemulsification: A Comparative Study

PURPOSE: To compare the efficacy of topical nepafenac (0.1%) with flurbiprofen (0.03%) in maintaining intra-operative mydriasis during phacoemulsification surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This study comprised of 160 patients, who were divided into two arms of 80 each (arms A and B) after randomisation. Pre-operatively, all patients received one drop of tropicamide 0.8% and phenylephrine 5% (combination), 4 times, at an interval of 15 minutes on the day of surgery. Thereafter, Nepafenac drop in arm A/Flurbiprofen drop in arm B was administered 4 times, at an interval of 15 minutes keeping a gap of 10 minutes between tropicamide-phenylephrine and any of the experimental drugs. Phacoemulsification was performed one hour after the administration of last drop. Both vertical and horizontal pupillary diameter were measured at three steps; immediately before the surgical incision (baseline), at the end of emulsification of nucleus (before irrigation and aspiration) and at the end of surgery (after stromal hydration). RESULTS: The difference in pupillary diameter between two groups, was statistically insignificant for vertical diameter (P = 0.08) and horizontal diameter (P = 0.28) at the start of surgery. On the other hand, pupillary diameter difference was statistically significant after emulsification of nucleus and at the end of surgery as well when both vertical (P < 0.05) and horizontal diameter (P < 0.05) were considered. The total reduction in pupillary diameter (both vertically and horizontally) was significantly less in the Nepafenac as compared to Flurbiprofen group (P < 0.05). Analysis of mean cumulative dissipated energy did not document any appreciable difference between the two groups. Phacoemulsification time analysis yielded statistically significant results (P = 0.004) between the Nepafenac and Flurbiprofen group. CONCLUSION: In the present study, topical Nepafenac (0.1%) proved to be more efficacious in maintaining intra-operative mydriasis during phacoemulsification surgery as compared to topical Flurbiprofen (0.03%).