Comparison of diclofenac and fluorometholone in preventing cystoid macular edema after small incision cataract surgery: a multicentered prospective trial.

PURPOSE To compare a nonsteroidal topical solution (0.1% diclofenac) to a steroidal topical solution (0.1% fluorometholone) in preventing cystoid macular edema (CME) and disruption of the blood-aqueous barrier. METHODS A multicentered, prospective clinical trial was performed on eyes undergoing phacoemulsification followed by implantation of a foldable acrylic intraocular lens by the envelope technique. The presence and degree of cystoid macula edema (CME) was determined by fluorescein angiography. A breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier was determined by laser flare-cell photometry. RESULTS Five weeks after surgery, CME was present in 3 of 53 eyes (5.7%) receiving diclofenac and in 29 of 53 eyes (54.7%) receiving fluorometholone. This difference was statistically significant (P < .001). The amount of flare in the anterior chamber at 3 days, 1, 2, 5, and 8 weeks after surgery was also significantly lower (P < .01-P < .001) in the diclofenac group. The degree of flare at 3 days, 1, 2, 5, and 8 weeks after surgery was significantly higher in eyes with CME (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that diclofenac effectively prevents CME following cataract surgery and that CME is closely related to the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier.