Managing pain after a photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is vital for patient comfort. A large review of 2,797 patients looked at different ways to handle this discomfort, comparing both topical treatments applied directly and systemic medications taken by the body.
For local relief, Ofloxacin and Proparacaine ranked as the top-performing topical agents. When looking at systemic options, a combination of Codeine and Acetaminophen ranked highest for pain control. While these rankings show which drugs are most effective relative to others, many of the results were close enough to placebo that some differences were not clearly defined.
Safety is also a major factor in choosing the right treatment. Diclofenac was found to have the most favorable safety profile among the options tested. However, it is important to note that these safety conclusions are based on only seven studies with varied data. Because of this limited amount of reporting, doctors should weigh these findings carefully when creating a plan for patients.
