touchOPHTHALMOLOGY touchOPHTHALMOLOGY
Anterior Segment
Read Time: 5 mins

Treatment of Post-operative Inflammation following Cataract Surgery – A Review

Copy Link
Published Online: May 3rd 2012 European Ophthalmic Review, 2012;6(2):98–103 DOI: http://doi.org/10.17925/EOR.2012.06.02.98
Authors: Harminder S Dua, Richa Attre
Quick Links:
Abstract
Article
Article Information
Abstract:
Overview

Inflammation after cataract surgery, which can be persistent, remains an undesirable consequence despite many advances in surgical techniques. Although corticosteroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have traditionally been used to treat inflammation, prophylactically as well as post-operatively, there are no established guidelines for the treatment of inflammation induced by cataract surgery. The long-term use of corticosteroids has raised safety concerns, especially with regard to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). This limitation of traditional corticosteroids led to the development of C-20 ester corticosteroids through retrometabolic drug design. This design modification allows the corticosteroid to be active at its site of action and then undergo predictable hydrolysis to inactive metabolites, resulting in reduced side effects. A review of studies published in the last 10 years indicates that C-20 ester corticosteroids provide effective control of post-cataract surgery inflammation without the elevation of IOP. Loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension 0.5 % is the only topical C-20 ester corticosteroid approved for use in the treatment of corticosteroid-responsive inflammatory conditions including post-operative ocular inflammation. This corticosteroid, alone or in combination with NSAIDs, may provide effective and safe inflammation control, especially for high-risk patients, and may overcome concerns regarding side effects associated with traditional C-20 ketone corticosteroids. Ocular inflammation after cataract surgery presents healthcare providers with a treatment dilemma. While corticosteroids are traditionally the therapy of choice for inflammation, their long-term use for managing ocular inflammation can produce significant adverse events. This article discusses whether C-20 ester corticosteroids, alone or in combination with NSAIDs, offer effective treatment of post-cataract surgery inflammation while minimising adverse events.

Acknowledgement: The authors thank The Scienomics Group for editorial assistance.

Keywords

Loteprednol etabonate, C-20 ester corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, ocular inflammation, cataract surgery

Article:
Methods

Relevant publications were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library using the following search terms: cataract, cataract surgery, postsurgical inflammation, anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid. Results were limited to English-language, peer-reviewed primary studies and reviews published between the years 2000 and 2010 (inclusive). Additional references were obtained by searching reference lists of identified articles.

Background

Methods

Relevant publications were identified through searches of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library using the following search terms: cataract, cataract surgery, postsurgical inflammation, anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid. Results were limited to English-language, peer-reviewed primary studies and reviews published between the years 2000 and 2010 (inclusive). Additional references were obtained by searching reference lists of identified articles.

Background

Cataracts are a major cause of blindness and severe visual impairment, leading to bilateral blindness in an estimated 20 million people worldwide in 2004.1 Over half of all persons over the age of 65 develop age-related cataracts with visual disability.2 Globally, the number of cataract cases is expected to increase as populations age and lifespans increase.3 In the US alone, the number of persons with cataracts is projected to reach 30.1 million by 2020.4 Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in developed and developing countries.5,6
Identified risk factors for cataract formation include age, ethnicity, gender, genetic factors, smoking, exposure to sunlight, certain medications, nutrition, lower education and medical conditions such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, ocular trauma and hypertension.2,6 Complications from lack of treatment of cataract include sensitivity to glare, poor night vision and progressive vision loss. Individuals with hypermature cataract can develop lens-induced (phacoanaphylactic) persistent uveitis or glaucoma and persistent cataract-related inflammation can cause significant tissue damage.7
There is no medical treatment for cataracts.2,3 Non-surgical management of cataract includes counselling and use of spectacles or low-vision aids.6,8 Surgical removal of cataract remains the only treatment option for patients with failing vision.3 Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical operation in the Western world.2,9 Small-incision cataract surgery using phacoemulsification has largely replaced extracapsular cataract extraction because of faster healing, smaller wounds and fewer resultant complications,3,6,8 with improved patient outcomes.10 However, post-operative complications, including ocular inflammation after cataract surgery, continue to cause visual impairment, pain and other sequelae among patients.

Discussion
Inflammation after Cataract Surgery

Ocular inflammation after cataract surgery is generally managed by topical anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids and/or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).6 The duration and degree of post-operative anti-inflammatory therapy have been debated as improved surgical approaches have minimised the need for aggressive inflammation control after cataract surgery compared with previous surgical techniques.11 Despite surgical advances, post-cataract surgery inflammation is still a common cause of patient discomfort, delayed recovery and reduced visual outcome.12,13
The physical trauma associated with cataract surgery, including disruption of the blood–aqueous barrier (BAB), can induce an inflammatory response and the release of inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes from arachidonic acid (see Figure 1). Prostaglandins are released naturally from the iris and ciliary body and migrate to the retina after cataract surgery.14 The inflammatory response may lead to the activation of the immune cascade, involving neutrophils, macrophages, T lymphocytes and additional inflammatory mediators.11,14,15 Post-cataract surgery inflammation presents as protein flare and inflammatory cells in the anterior chamber, hyperaemia, miosis, oedema, leukocyte migration, fibroblast proliferation and scar formation, along with other local responses to the released pro-inflammatory cytokines.16,17 Persistent inflammation leads to higher rates of post-operative cystoid macular oedema (CMO), patient discomfort and compromised visual outcomes12,13,17 consequent to the breakdown of the blood–retinal barrier.18 Multiple potential complications of untreated post-operative inflammation include pain, photophobia, posterior synechiae, pseudophakic cellular precipitates, uveitis, elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma.6
The development of post-operative inflammation varies across patients (e.g., patients on prostaglandin treatment for glaucoma or hypertension before cataract surgery may be at higher risk of post-surgical inflammation and complications such as CMO).19 Pupillary constriction during extracapsular cataract extraction is mainly caused by prostaglandins resulting from surgical trauma, which can be prevented by pre-operative use of topical corticosteroids or NSAIDs.20–26 Patients with pre-existing inflammation in the eye, such as those with dysfunctional tear syndrome, are susceptible to increased inflammation following cataract surgery.27 Patients showing signs of rosacea, which correlates with a high incidence of evaporative dry eye syndrome, have significantly improved visual outcomes when treated with a corticosteroid prior to surgery.27 In dysfunctional tear syndrome, tear hyperosmolarity leads to production of pro-inflammatory mediators.27 Inhibiting this process with the use of pre-operative NSAIDs and corticosteroids may reduce the effects of dysfunctional tear syndrome as well as the risk of inflammation after cataract surgery.16,27,28
Cataract surgery is associated with a risk of ocular infection and toxic inflammation. Infectious and non-infectious aetiologies of ocular inflammation are treated differently.29 Infectious complications, such as post-operative endophthalmitis, may occur during any ocular surgical procedure.30,31 Common post-operative endophthalmitis infections are often caused by the entry into the intraocular space of bacteria that normally inhabit the lid and conjunctiva.32 Prevention with appropriate pre- and post-surgical antibiotics reduces the incidence of endophthalmitis and inflammation.30 Corticosteroids are often used in combination with antibiotics to treat inflammation due to endophthalmitis.30

Medical Approaches to Treatment of Inflammation following Cataract Surgery

There are no established treatment guidelines to prevent or reduce inflammation following ocular surgery.8,11 Therefore, treatment includes pre- and post-operative anti-inflammatory therapies such as corticosteroids and NSAIDs (see Table 1).8,11,23 Since it is impossible to predict which patients will develop clinically significant post-operative inflammation, anti-inflammatory agents are routinely used post-operatively.3,8,20,21 In some institutions, especially those in the UK, corticosteroids are the preferred option.3

Corticosteroids in the Control of Inflammation after Cataract Surgery

Corticosteroids are traditionally used for short-term control of ocular inflammation33 and are a mainstay of treatment regimens following cataract surgery.11 Compared with NSAIDs, corticosteroids have a wider range of activity in relieving inflammation (see Figure 1). Corticosteroids act to reduce inflammation at multiple points in the inflammatory cascade (see Table 1 and Figure 1), including both the cyclo-oxygenase pathway and the lipoxygenase pathway through inhibition of phospholipase A2, producing a reduction in both prostaglandins and leukotrienes.11

Safety of C-20 Ester Corticosteroids following Cataract Surgery

While the long-term use of corticosteroids may be associated with side effects such as elevated IOP, onset of glaucoma, aggravation of other disease states (including viral or fungal keratitis), cataract and a delay in the normal course of wound healing,33–35 the two- to six-week course of ophthalmic corticosteroid treatment following cataract surgery is generally effective yet short enough, sometimes, to avoid these concerns.11,12 However, the ability of certain topically administered corticosteroids to raise lOP, particularly in open-angle glaucoma patients, limits the usefulness of these potent anti-inflammatory agents.34 The propensity of corticosteroids to induce ocular adverse effects may also vary depending on whether or not the patient is a steroid responder.33,36,37 Table 2 presents the average increase in IOP for different corticosteroids in steroid-sensitive patients. This limitation of traditional corticosteroids led to the development of C-20 ester corticosteroids through retrometabolic drug design. One such C-20 ester corticosteroid, loteprednol etabonate (LE), is the Δ1-cortienic acid etabonate derivative of prednisolone acetate but with a 17α-chloromethyl ester at the C-20 position instead of a ketone (see Figure 2). This allows LE to be active at the glucocorticoid receptor, its site of action, and subsequently to undergo predictable hydrolysis to inactive carboxylic acid metabolites by naturally occurring ocular esterases. The rapid metabolism of LE results in a lower propensity to induce IOP elevation compared with C-20 ketone corticosteroids, even when administered to known corticosteroid responders.38 LE has been shown to be a safe corticosteroid when used to treat a number of ocular inflammatory conditions, including giant papillary conjunctivitis, seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, uveitis, dysfunctional tear syndrome and post-cataract surgery inflammation.20,21,27,38–45
In two similar clinical trials evaluating the use of LE for treating post-cataract inflammation, LE produced significantly lower rates of treatment-emergent adverse events compared with placebo (p<0.001 in study 1 and p=0.002 in study 2).20,21 There was no significant difference in mean change in IOP with LE compared with placebo and no evidence of deleterious effects on post-operative recovery.20,21 LE had a smaller impact on IOP increase than prednisolone acetate when these corticosteroids were compared in patients undergoing cataract surgery.46 Long-term (≥28 days) administration of either LE 0.2 or 0.5 % was associated with a low incidence of elevated IOP, which was comparable with placebo and lower than the rate observed with prednisolone acetate 1.0 %.47 LE (0.2 %) has reportedly been used for up to three years in patients with allergic conjunctivitis without inducing clinically significant elevated IOP (p=0.824).44

Efficacy of C-20 Ester Corticosteroids in Post-operative Inflammation

Post-operative corticosteroid treatment results in a reduced presence of inflammatory cells and flare within the anterior chamber compared with placebo.22–25 In the above clinical trials, LE was more effective than placebo in reducing anterior chamber cells and flare when used after cataract surgery in patients with a cumulative inflammation severity of at least grade 3 (on a scale of 0–9).20,21 A significantly greater proportion of LE-treated patients versus patients taking placebo achieved complete resolution of anterior chamber cells and flare (p<0.001 for both studies).20,21 By the final visit, 93 and 89 % of LE-treated patients compared with 65 and 64 % of vehicle-treated patients, respectively, had mild or resolved anterior chamber inflammation in each study.20,21 Reduction in severity for both cells and flare individually, on average, was greater in the LE group compared with the placebo group (see Figures 3 and 4; p<0.001 for both end points in both studies).20,21 There was no indication of rebound inflammation following the cessation of LE therapy. In other studies, LE was comparable with other corticosteroids in the effective reduction of inflammation following cataract surgery.46,48

Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs

NSAIDs are cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors that work by suppressing production of prostaglandins. They are used before and after cataract surgery to prevent and reduce inflammation (see Table 1).49–52 NSAIDs have demonstrated suppression of ocular inflammation following cataract and refractive surgery in patients.53,54 NSAIDs control ocular pain and have similar activity against inflammation compared with corticosteroids.49,52 A few cases of corneal melting and perforation have been reported in patients treated with NSAIDs,55 although these were primarily limited to a specific diclofenac formulation marketed only in the US and subsequently withdrawn (Falcon Pharmaceuticals, Fort Worth, TX). Nevertheless, due to a potential class effect of corneal toxicity and melting with NSAIDs, the use of NSAIDs in patients with pre-existing compromised corneal epithelium may need to be limited (unless the risk of CMO outweighs the risk of corneal adverse events). In a recent review, bromfenac twice daily (BID) was found to demonstrate an early and sustained level of clinical activity with little burning and stinging and minimal adverse events in the treatment of ocular inflammation following cataract surgery.56 Preclinical studies with bromfenac demonstrated that the addition of bromine increased ocular penetration, suggesting that bromfenac BID may be as potent as other NSAIDs administered more frequently but with less potential for corneal toxicity. Bromfenac became available in the EU in 2011.

Topical Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs Compared with Topical Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Post-operative Inflammation

The efficacy of ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 % was compared with LE (0.5 %) in controlling inflammation after cataract surgery in 60 patients pre-operatively and one, three, seven and 30 ± 7 days post-operatively.57 There was no statistically significant difference in post-operative inflammation (objective or subjective cell and flare measurements) or IOP between the two groups.57 A prospective randomised double-masked study compared ketorolac tromethamine (0.5 %) with prednisolone acetate (1 %) in controlling inflammation after cataract surgery in 59 patients for 28 days. Ketorolac was as effective and well tolerated as prednisolone in controlling post-operative inflammation and pain after cataract surgery.58 Ketorolac tromethamine (0.5 %) and rimexolone 1 % were compared for controlling post-operative inflammation in 36 patients that had undergone cataract surgery; there were no statistically significant differences between the groups in cells, flare or IOP.59
The efficacy of indomethacin 0.1 % was compared with that of dexamethasone 0.1 % in a randomised double-masked study of 145 patients undergoing cataract surgery.60 Protein flare and cells decreased in both groups, with a difference in favour of indomethacin for cells at post-operative day 30 (p=0.046). Both drugs were well tolerated but conjunctival hyperaemia was less pronounced in the dexamethasone group on post-operative day 30 (p=0.046).
The anti-inflammatory effects of bromfenac 0.1 %, betamethasone 0.1 % or both were compared in 72 post-cataract patients up to two months post-operatively.55 There were no statistically significant differences among treatment groups in best corrected visual acuity, IOP and aqueous flare or corneal thickness. CMO was noted in one eye in the betamethasone monotherapy treatment group.
Diclofenac 0.1 % and dexamethasone 0.1 % were equally effective in reducing inflammation in post-cataract patients (n=180) as measured with laser flare photometry at days three and eight and at two weeks and one month following cataract surgery, while both were more effective than placebo. Mean IOP was statistically significantly higher in dexamethasone-treated patients.22 Comparison of diclofenac 0.1 % and betamethasone 0.1 % in preventing CMO and BAB disruption after small-incision cataract surgery demonstrated a lower incidence of fluorescein angiographic CMO in the diclofenac group (18.8 %) than in the betamethasone group (58.0 %) (n=150, p<0.001).61 There was significantly less anterior chamber flare in the diclofenac group than in the betamethasone group (p<0.05) at one and two weeks, while IOP was significantly higher in the betamethasone group at eight weeks (p=0.0003).61 Surface inflammation and patient comfort were not assessed in this study.61
Efficacy, safety and patient comfort were evaluated in two corticosteroids – prednisolone 1 % and rimexolone 1 % – and ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 %, after extracapsular cataract extraction. The assessment of cells did not differ among the treatments (p=0.165). Flare in the anterior chamber was lowest with ketorolac tromethamine (p=0.008) and surface inflammation was lowest with prednisolone (p=0.002). One patient in the prednisolone group had elevated IOP; among the remaining patients, those in the ketorolac tromethamine group had higher IOP than those in the two corticosteroid groups (p=0.030). One patient receiving ketorolac tromethamine developed corneal erosion. The best control of surface inflammation and highest patient comfort were achieved with prednisolone (p=0.041).62

Topical Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs in Combination with Topical Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Post-operative Inflammation

Because NSAIDs and corticosteroids have different mechanisms of action, they may be synergistic in the prevention and treatment of ocular inflammation after cataract surgery. In a retrospective chart review of 450 consecutive patients who had uncomplicated cataract surgery, those patients treated with prednisolone alone had a higher incidence of visually significant macular oedema as documented by optical coherence tomography (OCT) compared with those treated with both prednisolone and nepafenac (five patients versus no patients, respectively, p=0.0354).63 In a clinical trial investigating the use of ketorolac (0.4 %) in combination with prednisolone acetate (1 %), a notably reduced mean retinal thickening was observed through OCT in patients receiving combination therapy compared with patients receiving only prednisolone acetate (3.9 versus 9.6 μm, p=0.003).64 No patients in the combination group and five patients in the prednisolone group developed clinically apparent CMO (p=0.032). Treatment with peri-operative ketorolac and post-operative prednisolone acetate significantly reduced the incidence of both CMO and macular thickening in cataract surgery patients, indicating that the combination of a corticosteroid and an NSAID was synergistic in the prevention of inflammation following surgery.64 Similarly, treatment with diclofenac for two days pre-operatively and four weeks post-operatively plus steroid post-operatively reduced the incidence of CMO in a study of 60 patients undergoing small-incision cataract surgery as compared with treatment with diclofenac and steroid post-operatively only. None of the patients in the group receiving peri-operative diclofenac developed CMO compared with 12 % of the patients in the group receiving post-operative treatment only.65
In a study in rabbits, NSAID therapy (suprofen) was shown to be effective when started 48 hours prior to the induction of inflammation; however, it was ineffective when administered immediately after induction of inflammation. In contrast, corticosteroid therapy (prednisolone acetate) was markedly effective, both when used after the induction of inflammation and when initiated 48 hours previously. When administered together, NSAID plus corticosteroid therapy was more effective for mean decrease in corneal inflammatory activity in rabbits than treatment with either drug alone, regardless of whether therapy was initiated before or after the inflammatory event.66
These studies demonstrate that NSAIDs may work synergistically with corticosteroid therapy to provide effective control of inflammation and its effect on macular thickness after cataract surgery.55,63–66 Moreover, combination NSAID/steroid therapy in the setting of acute, visually significant pseudophakic CMO appears to offer treatment benefits over monotherapy regimens.67,68

Summary

Corticosteroids and NSAIDs are the mainstay topical therapies for post-operative inflammation following cataract surgery. While corticosteroids have a broader mechanism of action – inhibiting both the cyclo-oxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways through inhibition of phospholipase A2 – traditional corticosteroids are limited in that they lead to elevated IOP. Use of LE, a C-20 ester corticosteroid, in the prophylaxis and control of post-cataract surgery inflammation leads to more favourable safety outcomes compared with C-20 ketone corticosteroids. Different forms of monotherapy with corticosteroids or NSAIDs have been compared in the prophylaxis and control of post-cataract surgery inflammation. Although all the active agents were more effective than placebo in controlling inflammation, used together these drugs may work synergistically to offer more effective control of inflammation and prevention of CMO. Because LE has been shown to have a better safety profile in the control of inflammation following cataract surgery compared with prednisolone and other C-20 ketone corticosteroids, it may be a better option when used in combination with an NSAID. However extended use requires careful monitoring and reporting. An effective anti-inflammatory treatment regimen, with an improved safety profile that does not significantly elevate IOP, is useful for preventing further inflammation-related complications after cataract surgery. ■

Article Information:
Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Correspondence

Harminder Dua, Division of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, B Floor, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat Centre, University Hospital, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK. E: harminder.dua@nottingham.ac.uk

Support

This article was funded by Bausch & Lomb.

References

  1. Baltussen R, Sylla M, Mariotti S, Cost-effectiveness analysis of cataract surgery: a global and regional analysis, Bull World Health Organ, 2004;82:338–45.
  2. Solomon R, Donnenfeld ED, Recent advances and future frontiers in treating age-related cataracts, JAMA, 2003;290:248–51.
  3. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, Cataract surgery guidelines. Scientific Department, The Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London, 2004. Available at: www.rcophth.ac.uk/documents.asp?section=39& sectionTitle=Publications&page=9 (accessed 4 April 2012).
  4. Congdon N, Vingerling J, Klein B, et al., Eye Diseases Prevalence Research Group, Prevalence of cataract and pseudophakia/aphakia among adults in the United States, Arch Ophthalmol, 2004;122:487–94.
  5. World Health Organization, World Health Bulletin on Priority eye diseases: Main causes of visual impairment. Available at: www.who.int/blindness/causes/priority/en/print.html (accessed 4 April 2010).
  6. Asbell PA, Dualan I, Mindel J, et al., Age-related cataract, Lancet, 2005;365:599–609.
  7. Van Der Woerdt A, Lens-induced uveitis, Vet Ophthalmol, 2000;3:227–34.
  8. Cataract in the Adult Eye, Preferred Practice Pattern, San Francisco, CA: American Academy of Ophthalmology, 2006.
  9. West E, Behrens A, McDonnell P, et al., The incidence of endophthalmitis after cataract surgery among the U.S. medicare population increased between 1994 and 2001, Ophthalmology, 2005;112:1388–94.
  10. Woodcock M, Shah S, Smith RJ, Recent advances in customising cataract surgery, BMJ, 2004;328:92–6.
  11. DeCroos FC, Afshari NA, Perioperative antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents in cataract surgery, Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 2008;19:22–6.
  12. McColgin AZ, Heier JS, Control of intraocular inflammation associated with cataract surgery, Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 2000;11:3–6.
  13. Mentes J, Erakgun T, Afrashi F, Kerci G, Incidence of cystoid macular edema after uncomplicated phacoemulsification, Ophthalmologica, 2003;217:408–12.
  14. El-Harazi SM, Feldman RM, Control of intra-ocular inflammation associated with cataract surgery, Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 2001;12:4–8.
  15. Pande MV, Spalton DJ, Kerr-Muir MG, Marshall J, Postoperative inflammatory response to phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract surgery: aqueous flare and cells, J Cataract Refract Surg, 1996;22(Suppl. 1):770–4.
  16. Raizman M, Donnenfeld E, Weinstein A, Clinical comparison of two topical prednisolone acetate 1% formulations in reducing inflammation after cataract surgery, Curr Med Res Opin, 2007;23:2325–31.
  17. Cho H, Wolf K, Wolf E, Management of ocular inflammation and pain following cataract surgery: focus on bromfenac ophthalmic solution, Clin Ophthalmol, 2009;3:199–210.
  18. Tranos PG, Wickremasinghe SS, Stangos NT, et al., Macular edema, Surv Ophthalmol, 2004;49:470–90.
  19. Henderson B, Kim J, Ament C, et al., Clinical pseudophakic cystoid macular edema- Risk factors for development and duration after treatment, J Cataract Refract Surg, 2007;33:1550–8.
  20. A double-masked, placebo-controlled evaluation of 0.5% loteprednol etabonate in the treatment of postoperative inflammation. Loteprednol Etabonate Postoperative Inflammation Study Group 2, Ophthalmology, 1998;105:1780–6.
  21. Stewart R, Horwitz B, Howes J, et al., Double-masked, placebo-controlled evaluation of loteprednol etabonate 0.5% for postoperative inflammation. Loteprednol Etabonate Post-operative Inflammation Study Group 1, J Cataract Refract Surg, 1998;24:1480–9.
  22. Laurell CG, Zetterstrom C, Effects of dexamethasone, diclofenac, or placebo on the inflammatory response after cataract surgery, Br J Ophthalmol, 2002;86:1380–4.
  23. Chang DF, Garcia IH, Hunkeler JD, Minas T, Phase II results of an intraocular steroid delivery system for cataract surgery, Ophthalmology, 1999;106:1172–7.
  24. Bron A, Denis P, Hoang-Xuan TC, et al., The effects of rimexolone 1% in postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction. A double-masked placebo-controlled study, Eur J Ophthalmol, 1998;8:16–21.
  25. Assil KK, Massry G, Lehmann R, et al., Control of ocular inflammation after cataract extraction with rimexolone 1% ophthalmic suspension, J Cataract Refract Surg, 1997;23:750–7.
  26. Flach AJ, Lavelle CJ, Olander KW, et al., The effect of ketorolac tromethamine solution 0.5% in reducing postoperative inflammation after cataract extraction and intraocular lens implantation, Ophthalmology, 1988;95:1279–84.
  27. Pflugfelder SC, Maskin SL, Anderson B, et al., A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled, multicenter comparison of loteprednol etabonate ophthalmic suspension, 0.5%, and placebo for treatment of keratoconjunctivitis sicca in patients with delayed tear clearance, Am J Ophthalmol, 2004;138:444–57.
  28. Rowen S, Preoperative and postoperative medications used for cataract surgery, Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 1999;10:29–35.
  29. Jonas JB, Kreissig I, Spandau UH, Harder B, Infectious and noninfectious endophthalmitis after intravitreal high-dosage triamcinolone acetonide, Am J Ophthalmol, 2006;141:579–80.
  30. Stern GA, Factors affecting the efficacy of antibiotics in the treatment of experimental postoperative endophthalmitis, Trans Am Ophthalmol Soc, 1993;91:775–844.
  31. Costagliola C, dell'Omo R, Parmeggiani F, et al., Endophthalmitis. Anti-Infective Agents, Med Chem, 2009;8:151–68.
  32. Speaker M, Milch F, Shah M, et al., Role of external bacterial flora in the pathogenesis of acute postoperative endophthalmitis, Ophthalmology, 1991;98:639–49.
  33. McGhee CN, Dean S, Danesh-Meyer H, Locally administered ocular corticosteroids: benefits and risks, Drug Saf, 2002;25:33–55.
  34. Cantrill HL, Palmberg PF, Zink HA, et al., Comparison of in vitro potency of corticosteroids with ability to raise intraocular pressure, Am J Ophthalmol, 1975;79:1012–7.
  35. Schacke H, Docke WD, Asadullah K, Mechanisms involved in the side effects of glucocorticoids, Pharmacol Ther, 2002;96:23–43.
  36. Holland E, Djalilian A, Sanderson J, Attenuation of ocular hypertension with the use of topical loteprednol etabonate 0.5% in steroid responders after corneal transplantation, Cornea, 2009;28:1139–43.
  37. Carnahan MC, Goldstein DA, Ocular complications of topical, peri-ocular, and systemic corticosteroids, Curr Opin Ophthalmol, 2000;11:478–83.
  38. Bartlett JD, Horwitz B, Laibovitz R, Howes JF, Intraocular pressure response to loteprednol etabonate in known steroid responders, J Ocul Pharmacol, 1993;9:157–65.
  39. Pavesio CE, Decory HH, Treatment of ocular inflammatory conditions with loteprednol etabonate, Br J Ophthalmol, 2008;92:455–9.
  40. Asbell P, Howes J, A double-masked, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of loteprednol etabonate in the treatment of giant papillary conjunctivitis, CLAO J, 1997;23:31–6.
  41. Dell SJ, Lowry GM, Northcutt JA, et al., A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled parallel study of 0.2% loteprednol etabonate in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, J Allergy Clin Immunol, 1998;102:251–5.
  42. Dell SJ, Shulman DG, Lowry GM, Howes J, A controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of loteprednol etabonate in the prophylactic treatment of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis. Loteprednol Allergic Conjunctivitis Study Group, Am J Ophthalmol, 1997;123:791–7.
  43. Friedlaender MH, Howes J, A double-masked, placebo-controlled evaluation of the efficacy and safety of loteprednol etabonate in the treatment of giant papillary conjunctivitis. Loteprednol Etabonate Giant Papillary Conjunctivitis Study Group I, Am J Ophthalmol, 1997;123:455–64.
  44. Ilyas H, Slonim CB, Braswell GR, et al., Long-term safety of loteprednol etabonate 0.2% in the treatment of seasonal and perennial allergic conjunctivitis, Eye Contact Lens, 2004;30:10–3.
  45. Shulman DG, Lothringer LL, Rubin JM, et al., A randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled parallel study of loteprednol etabonate 0.2% in patients with seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, Ophthalmology, 1999;106:362–9.
  46. Grigorian R, Shah A, Guo S, Comparison of loteprednol etabonate 0.5 % (Lotemax) to prednisolone acetate 1 % (Falcon) for inflammation treatment following cataract surgery, Abstract 1065/B1040, Presented at: Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology Annual Meeting, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 6–10 May 2007.
  47. Novack GD, Howes J, Crockett RS, Sherwood MB, Change in intraocular pressure during long-term use of loteprednol etabonate, J Glaucoma, 1998;7:266–9.
  48. Stewart RS, Controlled evaluation of fluorometholone acetate and loteprednol etabonate in the treatment of postoperative inflammation following cataract surgery, Abstract B265, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 2004;45:E-Abstract 292.
  49. Flach AJ, Cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors in ophthalmology, Surv Ophthalmol, 1992;36:259–84.
  50. Solomon KD, Cheetham JK, DeGryse R, et al., Topical ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% ophthalmic solution in ocular inflammation after cataract surgery, Ophthalmology, 2001;108:331–7.
  51. Keates R, McGowan K, Clinical trial of flurbiprofen to maintain pupillary dilation during cataract surgery, Ann Ophthalmol, 1984;16:919–21.
  52. Colin J, The role of NSAIDs in the management of postoperative ophthalmic inflammation, Drugs, 2007;67:1291–1308.
  53. Bodaghi B, Weber M, Arnoux Y, et al., Comparison of the efficacy and safety of two formulations of diclofenac sodium 0.1 % eyedrops in controlling postoperative inflammation after cataract surgery, Eur J Ophthalmol, 2005;15:702–11.
  54. Sun R, Gimbel HV, Effects of topical ketorolac and diclofenac on normal corneal sensation, J Refract Surg, 1997;13:158–61.
  55. Miyanaga M, Miyai T, Nejima R, et al., Effect of bromfenac ophthalmic solution on ocular inflammation following cataract surgery, Acta Ophthalmol, 2009;87:300–5.
  56. Findl O, Redefining the Treatment Paradigm for Post-operative Inflammation Control –The Role of Topical Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs, European Ophthalmic Review, 2010;4:54–9.
  57. Holzer MP, Solomon KD, Sandoval HP, Vroman DT, Comparison of ketorolac tromethamine 0.5 % and loteprednol etabonate 0.5 % for inflammation after phacoemulsification: prospective randomized double-masked study, J Cataract Refract Surg, 2002;28:93–9.
  58. Simone J, Pendelton R, Jenkins J, Comparison of the efficacy and safety of ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% and prednisolone acetate 1% after cataract surgery, J Cataract Refract Surg, 1999;25:699–704.
  59. Solomon KD, Vroman DT, Barker D, Gehlken J, Comparison of ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% and rimexolone 1% to control inflammation after cataract extraction. Prospective randomized double-masked study, J Cataract Refract Surg, 2001;27(8):1232–7.
  60. Missotten L, Richard C, Trinquand C, Topical 0.1% indomethacin solution versus topical 0.1% dexamethasone solution in the prevention of inflammation following cataract surgery. The Study Group, Ophthalmologica, 2001;215(1):43–50.
  61. Asano S, Miyake K, Ota I, et al., Reducing angiographic cystoid macular edema and blood-aqueous barrier disruption after small-incision phacoemulsification and foldable intraocular lens implantation: multicenter prospective randomized comparison of topical diclofenac 0.1 % and betamethasone 0.1 %, J Cataract Refract Surg, 2008;34:57–63.
  62. Hirneiss C, Neubauer AS, Kampik A, Schonfeld CL, Comparison of prednisolone 1%, rimexolone 1% and ketorolac tromethamine 0.5% after cataract extraction: a prospective, randomized, double-masked study, Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol, 2005;243:768–73.
  63. Wolf E, Braunstein A, Shih C, Braunstein R, Incidence of visually significant pseudophakic macular edema after uneventful phacoemulsification in patients treated with nepafenac, J Cataract Refract Surg, 2007;33:1546–9.
  64. Wittpenn J, Silverstein S, Heier J, et al., StudyGroup ACME, A randomized, masked comparison of topical ketorolac 0.4% plus steroid vs steroid alone in low-risk cataract surgery patients, Am J Ophthalmol, 2008;146:554–60.
  65. McGolgin AZ, Raizman MB, Efficacy of topical Voltaren in reducing the incidence of postoperative cystoid macular edema, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1999;40(Suppl.):289.
  66. Leibowitz H, Ryan W, Kupferman A, DeSantis L, Effect of concurrent topical corticosteroid and NSAID therapy of experimental keratitis, Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci, 1986;27:1226–9.
  67. Heier JS, Topping TM, Baumann W, et al., Ketorolac versus prednisolone versus combination therapy in the treatment of acute pseudophakic cystoid macular edema, Ophthalmology, 2000;107:2034–8; discussion 2039.
  68. O'Brien TP, Emerging guidelines for use of NSAID therapy to optimize cataract surgery patient care, Curr Med Res Opin, 2005;21:1131–7.

Further Resources

Share this Article
Related Content In Anterior Segment
  • Copied to clipboard!
    accredited arrow-down-editablearrow-downarrow_leftarrow-right-bluearrow-right-dark-bluearrow-right-greenarrow-right-greyarrow-right-orangearrow-right-whitearrow-right-bluearrow-up-orangeavatarcalendarchevron-down consultant-pathologist-nurseconsultant-pathologistcrosscrossdownloademailexclaimationfeedbackfiltergraph-arrowinterviewslinkmdt_iconmenumore_dots nurse-consultantpadlock patient-advocate-pathologistpatient-consultantpatientperson pharmacist-nurseplay_buttonplay-colour-tmcplay-colourAsset 1podcastprinter scenerysearch share single-doctor social_facebooksocial_googleplussocial_instagramsocial_linkedin_altsocial_linkedin_altsocial_pinterestlogo-twitter-glyph-32social_youtubeshape-star (1)tick-bluetick-orangetick-red tick-whiteticktimetranscriptup-arrowwebinar Sponsored Department Location NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-07NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-08NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-09NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-10NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-11NEW TMM Corporate Services Icons-12Salary £ TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-01TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-02TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-03TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-04TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-05TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-06TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-07TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-08TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-09TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-10TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-11TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-12TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-13TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-14TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-15TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-16TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-17TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-18TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-19TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-20TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-21TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-22TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-23TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-24TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-25TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-26TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-27TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-28TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-29TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-30TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-31TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-32TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-33TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-34TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-35TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-36TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-37TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-38TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-39TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-40TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-41TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-42TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-43TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-44TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-45TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-46TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-47TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-48TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-49TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-50TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-51TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-52TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-53TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-54TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-55TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-56TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-57TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-58TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-59TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-60TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-61TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-62TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-63TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-64TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-65TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-66TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-67TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-68TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-69TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-70TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-71TMM-Corp-Site-Icons-72