Comparison of anti-inflammatory activity of dexamethasone and diclofenac sodium eye drops in phacoemulsification.

OBJECTIVE To compare the effectiveness of dexamethasone and diclofenac sodium eye drops in the resolution of inflammation following phacoemulsification surgery with posterior chamber intraocular lens implants. STUDY DESIGN Quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY Ophthalmology Department, PNS Shifa Hospital, Karachi, from June 2006 to March 2007. METHODOLOGY One hundred subjects were operated and postoperatively divided into two groups, designated as 'dexamethasone' and 'diclofenac' groups. They were assessed for visual acuity and followed for 5 weeks for the signs of inflammation, which included cells and flare in the anterior chamber and striate keratopathy. Proportions were compared by Fisher's exact test and the chi-square test. RESULTS Topically applied diclofenac sodium suppressed postoperative inflammation effectively but its anti-inflammatory effects were of lesser magnitude as compared to that of topically applied dexamethasone drops (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION Dexamethasone eye drops were found to have more potent anti-inflammatory activity in moderate to severe cases than diclofenac sodium eye drops in postoperative cases.