From the Guidelines
Anti-inflammatory eyedrops are primarily categorized into corticosteroid (CS) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eyedrops, with examples including loteprednol etabonate (Alrex) for CS and ketorolac (Acular) for NSAID, as noted in 1. These eyedrops have different mechanisms of action and are used for various ocular conditions.
- Corticosteroid eyedrops, such as loteprednol etabonate (Alrex), are used for more severe symptoms of allergic conjunctivitis and work by suppressing multiple inflammatory pathways, but they carry risks of increased intraocular pressure, cataract formation, and secondary infections, as mentioned in 1.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eyedrops, such as ketorolac (Acular), reduce prostaglandin production involved in mediating ocular allergy and are indicated for temporary relief of ocular itching caused by seasonal allergic conjunctivitis, as stated in 1. The choice between these medications depends on the specific eye condition, inflammation severity, and patient-specific factors, with some conditions requiring combination therapy for optimal management. Key considerations include the potential side effects of each type of eyedrop, with corticosteroids having more serious risks but also being more potent, and NSAIDs having fewer serious side effects but potentially causing stinging, burning, and rarely corneal melting, as generally understood in clinical practice and supported by the information in 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. All topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may slow or delay healing.
The types of anti-inflammatory eyedrops are:
- Corticosteroid (CS) eyedrops
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eyedrops, such as ketorolac tromethamine ophthalmic solution 2 2
From the Research
Types of Anti-Inflammatory Eyedrops
- Corticosteroid (CS) eyedrops: These are commonly used to treat ocular inflammatory conditions, but the provided studies do not specifically mention the types of CS eyedrops.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eyedrops: These are widely used to treat ocular inflammatory conditions related to ophthalmic surgical procedures, such as pseudophakic cystoid macular edema.