The effect of preoperative flurbiprofen on miosis produced by acetylcholine during cataract surgery

Sustained pupillary dilation during cataract surgery may be achieved with preoperative noncorticosteroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as flurbiprofen. However, these agents may interfere with miosis after injection of acetylcholine. Thirty patients for extracapsular cataract extraction were randomly assigned in a double-masked fashion to receive either a placebo or preoperative 0.03% flurbiprofen every 30 minutes for four doses. All patients also received three doses of 2.5% phenylephrine and 2% cyclopentolate. Pupillary diameter was measured the day before surgery, immediately before the surgical incision, immediately before and five minutes after acetylcholine injection, and the morning after surgery. The flurbiprofen group had a larger mean pupillary diameter before injection of acetylcholine (P < .001), five minutes after acetylcholine (P < .001), and on the first postoperative day (P < .005).