5 Prolensa Side Effects and How to Manage Them

Cataracts occur when the lenses in your eyes become cloudy over time. They’re a common issue, but they’re highly treatable with surgery.

Cataract surgery is considered safe and effective. But it can come with short-term side effects during the post-surgery recovery period. To help keep discomfort from your procedure at bay, your surgeon may prescribe eye drops, such as Prolensa (bromfenac).

Prolensa helps manage pain and inflammation following cataract surgery. It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), which is similar to headache medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin). Prolensa is started 1 day before surgery and is applied daily for 14 days (2 weeks) after surgery.

Prolensa doesn’t have many side effects, either. It’s a short-term medication, and most side effects you may encounter should go away over time. However, there are some Prolensa side effects worth keeping in mind.

Prolensa side effects at a glance

Most of Prolensa’s side effects are mild and short lived. About 3% to 8% of people in Prolensa’s initial studies experienced these side effects:

• Eye pain

• Eye inflammation

• Blurry vision

• Feeling like something is in your eye

• Light sensitivity

Other side effects are more serious, albeit rare. These include:

• Keratitis and corneal reactions

• Increased bleeding time

• Slowed healing

• Serious allergic reactions

Here, we’ll detail how to approach five noteworthy Prolensa side effects.

1. Eye pain and inflammation

Short-term pain and inflammation after surgery is normal. After all, this is what Prolensa is designed to manage. So while eye pain and inflammation was reported as a side effect of Prolensa in clinical studies, it’s more likely due to your surgery — not necessarily the medication.

These symptoms should gradually subside throughout the recovery process. In the meantime, resting, using protective eyewear, and applying lubricating eye drops with your surgeon’s OK can all help alleviate discomfort after surgery.

2. Blurry vision

Cloudy or blurry vision is one of the most common symptoms of cataracts. It’s likely the reason you’re getting cataract surgery in the first place.

Blurriness after surgery is also normal, and it should go away over time. But Prolensa can sometimes contribute to temporarily blurry vision, too. Contact your surgery center if you’re experiencing blurry vision that is problematic or lasts for longer than 1 week.

Thankfully, blurry vision from Prolensa isn’t very common. Prolensa helps with pain and inflammation, so applying the medicine can make your recovery from cataract surgery easier.

3. Feeling like something is in your eye

You know how uncomfortable it is to have an eyelash or piece of dust fall into your eye. Healthcare providers call this feeling a “foreign body sensation,” or when you feel like there’s an object touching the surface of your eye.

Some people using Prolensa have reported feeling foreign body sensations in clinical studies. This is likely caused by the incision in your eye that’s made during cataract surgery. It should heal in about a week, but it may take a few months if you had issues with dry eyes prior to surgery.

While you may want to rub your eyes, try to resist this urge as much as possible. Rubbing your eyes may injure the surgical site and can introduce bacteria into your eye. This may cause an infection. Wearing sunglasses may help you resist this temptation. It can also help with light sensitivity.

4. Sensitivity to light

The medical term for sensitivity to bright light is “photophobia.” This frequently happens after cataract surgery because more light is able to make its way into your eyes. Some people using Prolensa also report experiencing photophobia. But in clinical trials, it was less of an issue compared to people using placebo eye drops (eye drops with no medication in it).

Some light sensitivity after cataract surgery is expected. Again, it’s a normal part of the healing process. You may find car headlights, bright sunlight, and fluorescent lighting uncomfortable for a few days. Wearing sunglasses or other protective eye coverings during this time may help.

However, extreme light sensitivity is also a possible symptom of an eye infection. Symptoms of extreme light sensitivity include new redness, pain, or increasing sensitivity. Contact your surgery center for further instructions if you find light sensitivity to be intolerable or hard to handle.

5. Sulfite sensitivity

Prolensa contains an inactive ingredient called sodium sulfite. It’s often included in food and medication products as a preservative. But in some cases, sodium sulfite can cause allergic reactions. This can range from bouts of asthma to anaphylaxis in a small percentage of people. You’re more likely to have a sensitivity to sulfite if you also have asthma.

The likelihood of having a serious sulfite allergy is extremely low. Frozen fruit, french fries, and alcoholic beverages all can contain sulfites. If you have experienced a life-threatening allergic reaction from consuming any of these food items, let your healthcare provider know. They may opt to prescribe a different eye drop as a precaution.

Good to know: Sulfite allergies are different from sulfa allergies, which are related to antibiotics containing chemicals called sulfonamides. Having a sulfa allergy doesn’t mean you have a higher risk of a sulfite allergy.

When to contact a healthcare provider about Prolensa side effects

Most people tolerate Prolensa well. You’ll also only be using it for about 2 weeks, so long-term side effects generally aren’t a concern either.

Pain and inflammation should go away over time as you use your eye drops and your eyes heal after surgery. The same is true for feeling like something is in your eye.

However, don’t feel like you should just stand by if you think something more serious is brewing. Contact your surgeon’s office to let them know if your pain, inflammation, or eye irritation feels intense or worsens at any point. You should also contact them if you’re experiencing light sensitivity that feels severe. This may be a sign of an infection.

Severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, are rare but possible. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you’re experiencing symptoms such as trouble breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, or fainting.

How to save on Prolensa

There are ways to save on Prolensa, which is available as a generic- and brand-name medication. GoodRx can help you navigate between GoodRx coupons and copay savings cards to save money on your prescription.

• Save with GoodRx: Anyone with a valid prescription, regardless of insurance status, can use GoodRx to purchase a bottle of Prolensa at an exclusive cash price as low as $80. The generic may cost as little as $54.02.

• Save with a copay savings card: If you have commercial insurance, you may be eligible to pay as little as $25 for Prolensa using a savings card from the manufacturer.

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Written by:

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD

Mandeep Sohal, PharmD, has more than 7 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry and is licensed in California. In his career, he’s had experience with specialty pharmacy, community pharmacy, pharmacy benefit management, and pharmaceutical manufacturers.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP

Austin Ulrich, PharmD, BCACP, is a board-certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist. In his early career, he provided direct patient care in a variety of settings, including hospital and community pharmacies, and in a primary care clinic as a clinical pharmacist.

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