Impact of Nepafenac (0.1%) With Topical Steroids Versus Topical Steroids Alone on Central Macular Thickness and Volume Changes Post-Cataract Surgery: A Randomised Controlled Study

Introduction This study aimed to evaluate the efcacy of adding 0.1% nepafenac ophthalmic suspension to a topical steroid regimen after uncomplicated cataract surgery in reducing additional inammatory manifestations and subclinical macular edema. Methodology This randomized controlled interventional study took place at an upgraded Department of Ophthalmology within a tertiary care facility in Jaipur. Data collection occurred from June to October 2023, with an additional two months for analysis. The study included patients with senile cataracts of NS2/3 grade who provided informed consent, with exclusion criteria covering various ocular and systemic conditions. A total of 82 participants were randomly assigned to two groups, with 41 individuals in each, using sealed envelope randomization. Arm A received topical Nepafenac 0.1% and Dexamethasone 0.1%, while Arm B received Dexamethasone 0.1% alone. Results The mean age of participants was 65.08±6.37 years. Both groups showed comparable baseline characteristics and improvements in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) postoperatively, with statistically insignicant differences between the groups. Although central retinal thickness (CRT) increased postoperatively in both groups, only the group receiving Dexamethasone alone showed a signicant increase at 6 weeks, but the difference between both groups in terms of CRT and macular volume was statistically insignicant (p>0.05) Conclusion Our study found minimal postoperative macular thickness increases in both control and treatment groups, with no notable differences detected in OCT measurements. The slight increase in macular thickness did not affect nal BCVA, resulting in excellent outcomes for both groups. We found no indication that topical NSAIDs pose a greater risk of adverse effects compared to corticosteroids.