What are NSAID Eye Drops?
NSAID eye drops are prescription medications used to treat macular edema or reduce pain and inflammation. NSAID stands for Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug. This class of medication is separated from steroids by mechanism of action, effectiveness, and side effects. There are a number of NSAID eye drop brands available. Examples include Ketorolac, Acular, Acuvail, Voltaren, Nevanac, Ilevro, Xibrom, Bromday, Prolenza, Ocufen, and Bromsite.
How do NSAIDS work?
NSAIDS work by inhibiting the COX enzyme that produces specific prostaglandins, which promote inflammation. Prostaglandins are a major class of inflammatory mediators in the body. There are other mediators of inflammation that sometimes need to be controlled, so steroid eye drops are often used in addition to NSAIDS.
There is conflicting evidence as to whether one NSAID drug is better than another. Some believe that Nevanac and Ilevro are better for pain control. Others believe that Voltaren is better to control signs of inflammation inside the eye.
How does the doctor choose which NSAID to use?
In some cases the doctor has had good experience with a specific agent for a given situation. In other cases the choice may be guided by convenience and cost. For convenience some drops may be used once or twice a day (e.g. Ilevro, Xibrom, Bromday, Prolenza, and Bromsite). Although their prices vary, they tend to be expensive in comparison to generic drugs.
As an alternative, other NSAIDS are used more frequently, but cost less. Acular and Voltaren are available in generic formulations that cost under $20. These drops are frequently used four times a day. They are less expensive even though more eye drops are used per day. They may cause eye irritation in some patients.
If you have strong preferences, be sure to communicate with your doctor to be given the best NSAID eye drops for your situation. Be sure to use your eye drops exactly as prescribed and keep all appointments as scheduled in order to determine the effect of the medication and to look for side effects.
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