The quantitative effect of 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine solution and 0.1% dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution on postsurgical blood-aqueous barrier
A. J. Flach, M. C. Kraff, D. R. Sanders and L. Tanenbaum
Department of Ophthalmology, University of California, San Francisco Medical Center.
Anterior chamber fluorophotometry was performed after the oral
administration of fluorescein sodium in patients undergoing extracapsular
cataract extraction and posterior chamber intraocular lens insertion before
and after surgery. The administration of 0.5% ketorolac tromethamine
solution (ketorolac solution) eye drops before and after surgery decreased
the breakdown of the blood-aqueous barrier as compared with 0.1%
dexamethasone sodium phosphate solution (dexamethasone solution) eye drops
at each period, as measured by fluorophotometry. A single injection below
Tenon's capsule of a short-acting corticosteroid had been given to each
patient at the end of each surgical procedure. Slit-lamp observations of
postoperative ocular inflammation were not different between treatment
groups. Both ketorolac and dexamethasone solutions were well tolerated by
patients. Ketorolac solution was more effective than dexamethasone solution
in facilitating reestablishment of the blood-aqueous barrier after surgery,
as measured by fluorophotometry, and was equal to dexamethasone solution as
observed by slit-lamp observations. This study suggests that ketorolac
ophthalmic solution may be effective and safe as a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory agent for topical use after cataract surgery and
intraocular lens implantation in place of topically administered
corticosteroids.
