JUN 12, 2015
By Purnima S. Patel, MD
Data from this DRCR.net study suggests that the beneficial effect of nepafanec on macular edema in patients with diabetes may be limited to macular edema associated with recent cataract surgery rather than diabetic macular edema.
This Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Research Network (DRCR.net) protocol randomized 125 patients with good visual acuity and noncentral-involved diabetic macular edema to take nepafenac 0.1% or placebo 3 times daily for 12 months.
At 12 months, the mean change in retinal volume as measured with OCT was not significantly different between the treatment groups, and visual acuity outcomes were similar.
One study participant developed a corneal melt after using nepafenac in the nonstudy eye, which had a history of severe dry eye. However, there were no other safety concerns, and nepafenac seemed to be well tolerated.