Bromfenac 0.09% BID after Nd:YAG laser posterior capsulotomy: evaluation of visual acuity and macular retinal thickness.

Abstract

AbstractPurpose To investigate the clinical outcomes of Bromfenac ophthalmic solution 0.09% dosed twice daily (BID) for 2 weeks following Neodymium:YAG (Nd:YAG) laser posterior capsulotomy in terms of best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and macular retinal thickness.Methods 35 eyes with posterior capsular opacification were recruited, treated with Nd:YAG laser capsulotomy and subsequently with Bromfenac 0.09% BID for 2 weeks. Eyes with pre‐existing macular pathology were excluded. BCVA, a complete ophthalmologic assessment, macular scans by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD‐OCT Cirrus, Zeiss) were performed before YAG laser and after 2 weeks.Results Post‐operative BCVA at 2 weeks was significantly better than pre‐operative one (p<0.001). Likewise post‐operative signal strength (SS) of OCT images improved (p<0.001). There were no statistically significant differences between pre‐ and post‐operative macular retinal thickness. After multivariate analysis controlling for potential confounders (age, sex, total energy, SS), a significant decrease in macular thickness was shown in superior and nasal sectors (p<0.5).Conclusion Nd:YAG capsulotomy results in a measurable improvement in BCVA and in SS, allowing a more reliable examination of the posterior segment. It is also a safe procedure, resulting in no change in macular thickness. Bromfenac BID is effective for reducing ocular inflammation associated to laser surgery and for preventing the related complications (first of all macular cystoid edema). From a multivariate analysis Bromfenac even seems to determine a decreased macular thickness in some areas, due to a therapeutic efficacy and perhaps to an easier dosage with increased compliance.