Efficacy of preoperative 0.1% topical nepafenac in the prevention of cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of preoperative topical 0.1% nepafenac in preventing cystoid macular edema after cataract surgery in diabetic patients in Pakistan. Diabetic patients with normal central macular thickness and significant cataracts at Layton Rahmatullah Benevolent Trust Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan were included from March to August 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: those receiving 0.1% nepafenac and those not. Efficacy was assessed by comparing central macular thickness. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27. The study included 96 patients with a mean age of 57.96±3.80 years. In the nepafenac group, central macular thickness measured 241.10 ± 16.07 µm preoperatively, 245.88±19.76 µm at 1 month, 242.79±20.02 µm at 2 months, and 240.77±20.17 µm at 3 months. In the control group, measurements were 249.31±10.96 µm preoperatively, 257.50±13.50 µm at 1 month, 266.08±19.53 µm at 2 months, and 266.96±17.30 µm at 3 months. The nepafenac group showed a significant decrease in central macular thickness, with overall efficacy of 93.8% compared to the control group. A statistically significant difference in central macular thickness was observed between diabetic patients who received nepafenac pre- and postoperatively and those who did not.