Rate of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema using intraoperative and topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs alone without steroids

PURPOSE: To determine the rate of postoperative cystoid macular edema (CME) in patients undergoing cataract surgery treated with intraoperative intracameral and postoperative topical nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without steroids. SETTING: Academic outpatient surgery center Wake Forest Baptist Health in Bermuda Run, NC. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed. Patients were identified through a medical record search tool using criteria of the Current Procedural Terminology code (66984), a single surgeon, and a date range from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017. Medical records were reviewed to determine intraoperative and postoperative medication regimen, visual outcome, and development of postoperative CME. Patients with a history of uveitis, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusions, epiretinal membranes, vitreomacular traction, or any prior macular edema were excluded. In addition, any patients with less than 6 weeks of postoperative follow-up were excluded. RESULTS: Overall, 824 patient records were reviewed, and the analysis included 504 eyes. Of these, 2 eyes developed postoperative CME (rate = 0.40%, 95% CI 0.0005 to 0.0143). CONCLUSIONS: The rate of CME in patients treated with intraoperative and postoperative NSAIDs without steroids was low and below the historical rates derived from a literature review of CME development with the use of steroids.