Inhibition of Blood-Aqueous Humor Barrier Breakdown With Diclofenac: A Fluorophotometric Study

• Various doses of a new topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent, diclofenac sodium, were tested against prednisolone sodium phosphate in a randomized double-masked study to determine comparative efficacy and safety regarding the reduction of postsurgical ocular inflammation. Inflammation was assessed by measuring fluorescein leakage into the anterior chamber using f luorophotometry techniques. Increased leakage in each patient's operated-on eye compared with the unoperated-on control eye was attributed to a breakdown in the blood-aqueous barrier caused by the cataract surgery. Elimination or significant reduction of fluorescein leakage within a treatment group constituted increased efficacy in controlling inflammation. A total of 124 cases were analyzed. There were no preoperative differences among groups in fluorescein leakage. At 1 week after surgery, all three diclofenac groups had significantly less fluorescein leakage compared with the prednisolone group. Mean percent increases were 56% to 118% in diclofenac groups vs 324% in the prednisolone group. No differences among diclofenac concentrations were detected. The differences between prednisolone and diclofenac were also present, although of lesser magnitude, at 3 weeks. This demonstration of increased efficacy of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agent vs prednisolone is promising given the known side effects of ocular steroids.