Bromfenac vs. Ketorolac for Eye Pain: Important Differences and Potential Risks.

Bromfenac

Ketorolac

(Toradol)

Summary for Bromfenac

Prescription only

Bromfenac, also known by its brand names Prolensa and BromSite, is an eye drop medication. It's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that relieves eye pain and inflammation after cataract surgery. This medication is approved for adults only. The dosage is typically 1 drop into the affected eye once or twice per day, depending on the strength of the eye drop you have. Side effects are typically related to the eye and can include eye pain and blurry vision.

Indications for Bromfenac

Eye pain and eye inflammation after cataract surgery in adults

Pros and Cons for Bromfenac

Pros

Can start to feel pain relief after a day
Used once or twice per day, depending on eye drop strength

Cons

Can slow down healing and raise the risk for bleeding in the eye
Some strengths contain sulfites, so might not be good option for people who are allergic to sulfite

Common Side Effects for Bromfenac

Blurry vision (up to 8%)
Sensitivity to light (up to 8%)
Eye pain (up to 8%)
Feeling like there's something in your eye (up to 8%)
Inflammation in the front part (anterior chamber) of the eye (up to 8%)

Warnings for Bromfenac

Allergic reaction
Slower healing
Bleeding in the eye
Problems in the cornea
Don't wear contact lenses when placing bromfenac drops into the eye

Summary for Ketorolac

Prescription only

Ketorolac (Toradol) is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID). It provides pain relief by blocking certain chemicals in your body that cause pain and inflammation. But ketorolac (Toradol) is meant for short-term use only due to the risk for severe side effects, such as heart attack and stomach ulcers. Typically, ketorolac (Toradol) is first given as an injection in a hospital or clinic setting. After that, you'll likely continue treatment with the oral tablets, which are taken every 4 to 6 hours for a maximum of 5 days. Your care team will help you transition to a safer alternative pain medication as soon as possible.

Indications for Ketorolac

Short-term, moderate to severe pain in adults

Pros and Cons for Ketorolac

Pros

Works well to treat short-term pain
Available as tablets and as an injection
Has been shown to work as well as morphine for treating pain due to certain conditions, so might be a good option for people who can't take opioid pain medications

Cons

Not recommended during pregnancy
Might not be the best option if you're 65 years or older, or have kidney, heart, liver, or bleeding problems
Can only use for up to 5 days