Inflammation in the eye arising from various factors including allergy, infection, injury and surgery can have serious consequences, and can continue long after the cause is removed, resulting in permanently damaged vision. The treatment of ophthalmic inflammation after surgery has traditionally consisted of topical corticosteroids, but adverse events such as delayed healing, rise in intraocular pressure and increased susceptibility to microbial infections have driven the search for alternative treatments. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used as alternatives to steroid treatments but also have limitations and cause adverse events. Bromfenac has emerged as a potent and safe treatment for inflammation after cataract surgery. Its unique chemical structure makes it a highly lipophilic molecule that penetrates all major ocular tissues in a rapid and sustained manner. It is also a potent inhibitor of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase-2, which is believed to be the primary mediator of ocular inflammation. These properties permit less frequent dosing (twice-daily [BID]) and greater patient tolerability. A body of efficacy and safety data support use of bromfenac in this indication and it compares favourably with other NSAIDs and steroids in limiting post-operative inflammation. NSAIDs and corticosteroids have different, potentially synergistic effects. However, benefits specific to NSAIDs include lowering prostaglandin E-induced intraocular pressure elevation, no increased risk of secondary infections and stabilisation of the bloodaqueous barrier. With increasing demand for ophthalmic surgery, bromfenac and other treatments are likely to be important components in the treatment of inflammatory conditions after cataract surgery, decreasing pain and contributing to favourable visual outcomes.
Factors independently associated with increased risk of pain development after ophthalmic surgery
