The efficacy of 2.5% phenylephrine and flurbiprofen combined in inducing and maintaining pupillary dilatation during cataract surgery.

Author(s): Ozturk F, Kurt E, Inan UU, Ilker SS

Affiliation(s): Department of Ophthalmology, Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey. fozturk@aku.edu.tr

Publication date & source: 2000-04, Eur J Ophthalmol., 10(2):144-8.

Publication type: Clinical Trial; Comparative Study ; Randomized Controlled Trial

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness of phenylephrine 2.5% and flurbiprofen 0.03% combined in inducing and maintaining mydriasis during extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). METHODS: One hundred patients undergoing ECCE + intraocular lens (IOL) implantation were randomly divided into four groups. The first group was given phenylphrine 10%, the second group phenylephrine 10% + flurbiprofen, the third group phenylephrine 2.5% and fourth group phenylephrine 2.5% + flurbiprofen. Cyclopentolate 1% was used in all patients. Phenylephrine and cyclopentolate were instilled preoperatively four times during 1 hour and flurbiprofen was given four times the day before surgery and twice with an hour's interval before operation. Pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration horizontal pupil diameters were measured with callipers viewed through the operating microscope. RESULTS: Pupil diameters in pre-operative and post-cortex aspiration were no different in the 2.5% and 10% phenylephrine groups (p>0.05). Both diameters were larger and pupillary constriction was smaller in the flurbiprofen groups (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: 2.5% phenylephrine was as effective as 10% phenylephrine, with and without flurbiprofen, in inducing and maintaining pupil dilatation during ECCE surgery.