COMPARISON OF 0.1-PERCENT INDOMETHACIN EYE-DROPS, 0.03-PERCENT FLURBIPROFEN EYE-DROPS AND PLACEBO FOR MAINTAINING MYDRIASIS DURING CATARACT-SURGERY

A randomized, double-blind study was conducted to compare the effect of 0.1 % indomethacin solution versus 0.03 % flurbiprofen versus placebo on the maintenance of mydriasis during cataract surgery. Ninety-five patients undergoing extracapsular cataract extraction with posterior chamber lens implantation were enrolled. Pupillary diameters were measured horizontally under operating-microscope visualization before 5 surgical steps: 1. corneo-scleral incision; 2. lens nucleus expression; 3. lens cortex material aspiration; 4. intra-ocular lens implantation; 5. end of surgery. The mydriasis loss during surgery was statistically less in the 2 groups treated by non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs than in the placebo group. This effectiveness appeared at the time of lens nucleus expression (p = 0.0001) and persisted until the end of surgery. Then, the mydriasis was maintained during 2 crucial surgical steps requiring optimal pupillary dilation : lens cortex material aspiration and intra-ocular lens implantation. No significant difference was found between 0.1 % indomethacin and 0.03 % flurbiprofen concerning effectiveness and tolerance.