Background: Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders which is followed by chronic hyperglycemia.

Aim: To assess the impact of 0.3% nepafenac ophthalmic suspension on macular thickness in mild and moderate NPDR following cataract surgery.

Methodology: This quasi-experimental study used non-probability purposive sampling from September 22 to May 23. Sixty patients with type 2 diabetes of 40-65 years of age, good glycemic control and mature cataracts were to undergone phacoemulsification were included. Patients with complicated cataract surgery or using topical or systemic NSAIDs and steroids and proliferative or severe NPDR were excluded. Diabetic cataract patients split into two groups of with and without taking nepafenac. Each group of 30 patients is divided into two subgroups of 15 patients in each with mild and moderate NPDR. All patients were examined for macular thickness by OCT before, one week and one month following cataract surgery. Data was analyzed by repeated measure ANOVA.

Results: Mild NPDR patients with taking nepafenac had mean macular thicknesses of 228µm, 224µm and 216µm while patients without taking nepafenac had mean macular thicknesses of 230µm, 244µm and 247µm preoperatively, one week, and one month after cataract surgery. Moderate NPDR patients with taking nepafenac had mean macular thicknesses of 260µm, 253µm and 245µm while patients without taking nepafenac had mean macular thicknesses of 258µm, 274µm and 282µm preoperatively, one week, and one month after cataract surgery. All groups had p < 0.05 (.000).

Conclusion: 0.3% nepafenac ophthalmic suspension is effective in reducing macular thickness in diabetic patients following cataract surgery with mild and moderate NPDR.

Keywords: Cataract Extraction, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Macular edema, Retinopathy