Nevanac, also known by its generic name nepafenac 0.1%, is an eye drop medication that's used to relieve pain and inflammation from cataract surgery. This medication is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) eye drop that both adults and children who need cataract surgery can use. The Nevanac (nepafenac) eye drop is placed in the affected eye(s) three times per day for up to 2 weeks after the surgery. Some side effects include changes in vision and feeling like there's something in your eye.
Relief of eye pain and inflammation after cataract removal surgery for people ages 10 years and older
Nevanac (nepafenac) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that's given as an eye drop. The medication works by blocking a protein that plays a role in causing inflammation called cyclooxygenase (COX). When Nevanac (nepafenac) is placed into the eye, the medication helps lessen inflammation, pain, and swelling there.
Source:Â DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Blurred vision
change in vision
decrease in vision
loss of vision
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Feeling of having something in the eye
sticky sensation of the eyelids
Less common
Change in color vision
crusting in the corner of the eye
difficulty seeing at night
dizziness
headache
increased sensitivity of the eyes to sunlight
nausea or vomiting
nervousness
pounding in the ears
seeing flashes or sparks of light
seeing floating spots before the eyes, or a veil or curtain appearing across part of vision
slow or fast heartbeat
stuffy or runny nose
tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
tightness of the chest or wheezing
troubled breathing
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Majority of people didn't have eye pain the day after surgery
Can use for children as young as 10 years old
Need to use three times per day
Might slow down the healing process from surgery
Use Nevanac (nepafenac) exactly as prescribed. Be sure to start using the eye drops the day before your cataract surgery and also use them on the day of your surgery to help keep eye pain and inflammation from the procedure low. Following your surgery, continue to use Nevanac (nepafenac) every day for 2 weeks (or for as long as your prescriber instructs you to).
Make sure you know how to apply the Nevanac (nepafenac) eye drops. Ask your ophthalmologist or pharmacist if you have any questions.
Wash your hands before and after you put Nevanac (nepafenac) drops in your eye(s). Don't let the dropper tip touch your eye or any other surface, and don't touch the bottle tip with your fingers. This will help prevent eye infections that could happen if you accidentally contaminate the medication with germs.
Shake the Nevanac (nepafenac) bottle well. When you're ready, tilt your head back and look up. Then, gently pull your bottom eyelid down with one hand so that a pocket forms. Using the other hand, hold the bottle upside down right above the pocket and squeeze a drop of medication into the eye. Then, close your eye and press one finger to the inner corner of your eye by the nose for 1 minute.
If you need to use other eye products in the same eye in addition to Nevanac (nepafenac), be sure to use each eye product at least 5 minutes apart. This lets your eye(s) absorb each medication fully.
Take out any contact lenses in your eye(s) before you place the Nevanac (nepafenac) drop in your eye. This medication has a preservative in it that can damage contacts. Your eye specialist might instruct you to wait at least 15 minutes after you use the eye drops to put your lenses back into your eye(s). Your eye specialist might also recommend that you wait until your eye fully heals from the surgery to wear contact lenses again.
Keep Nevanac (nepafenac) at a temperature between 36 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Protect the medication from light by keeping the bottle in the medication box that it came in from the pharmacy.
Let your care team know if you're pregnant so they can speak with you about the risks and benefits of using Nevanac (nepafenac). NSAIDs aren't recommended while pregnant, so you might need to be prescribed a different medication, especially if you're in the later stage of pregnancy.
Nevanac (nepafenac) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Risk factors: History of bleeding problems | Taking other medications that raise your risk of bleeding
Nevanac (nepafenac) can raise your risk of bleeding after eye surgery. Let your prescriber know if you have a history of bleeding problems or if you take any medications that can make you more likely to bleed, such as blood thinners. Call your ophthalmologist if you notice blood spots on your eye or any concerning redness in the eye, especially if you just had eye surgery.
Risk factors: Also using corticosteroid eye drops
Nevanac (nepafenac) can slow down the healing process, especially if you're also using corticosteroid eye drops like prednisolone to help with eye inflammation even more after cataract surgery. Make sure to go to any scheduled follow-up appointments so your ophthalmologist can check how well your eye is healing from your cataract surgery.
Risk factors: History of problems with the cornea or surface of the eye | Dry eye } Many eye surgeries within a short period of time | Rheumatoid arthritis | Diabetes | Using Nevanac (nepafenac) for longer than prescribed
Let your ophthalmologist know if you've had problems with your cornea before or if you've had many eye surgeries within a short period of time. Your risk for these cornea problems might be higher. Contact your optometrist or ophthalmologist as soon as possible if you notice changes in your vision or more eye pain or discomfort. Use Nevanac (nepafenac) exactly as prescribed, and don't use it for longer than prescribed after your cataract surgery.
Take your contact lenses out each time before you apply Nevanac (nepafenac) into your eye(s) if you wear contacts. This medication contains a preservative called benzalkonium chloride, which can damage contacts. Ask your ophthalmologist when it's safe for you to wear contact lenses again after your cataract surgery.
Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
---|---|---|---|
3ml of 0.1% | 1 eye dropper | $322.02 | $322.02 |
The typical dose is 1 drop into the affected eye(s) three times per day.
The eye drops are typically used the day before cataract surgery, on the day of surgery, and for two weeks after the surgery.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Allergy to nepafenac or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
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Eye pain and eye inflammation after cataract surgery in adults
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (2015). Pharmacy auditing and dispensing job aid: Billing other dosage forms.
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Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. (2023). Nevanac- nepafenac suspension/ drops [package insert]. DailyMed.
SafeMedication. (n.d.). How to use eye drops.
Turbot, D., et al. (2023). What is refractive surgery? American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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