Instructions for Cataract Surgery Medications

You will need to use drops before and after your surgery to help you heal and to prevent swelling from the surgery. Drops for cataract surgery can be very expensive. In order to keep your costs down, we have two options for drops. They are equally effective, but one may be less expensive for you than the other.

It’s important that you use your cataract surgery drops as instructed. If you have any questions about how to use them, please call our office at 860-373-4148.

Option 1: Compounded cataract drops (recommended for most patients)

These drops are a mixture of bromfenac and prednisolone. They are easy to take and relatively inexpensive (compared to other drops). They cost $40.00 per bottle. We charge a $20.00 handling fee for each order placed. The usual cost for both eyes having cataract surgery is $100.00. This is not covered by insurance. As with all medications, these drops are non-refundable and non-returnable. They are compounded by OSRX, a pharmacy licensed to compound medications. After you order them, OSRX will ship them to your home. Please allow about a week for delivery.

Time Medication
Starting on the day before surgery Compounded drop: 1 drop in the surgical eye 4x/day
Starting after surgery Compounded drop: 1 drop in the surgical eye 4x/day
Starting five days after surgery Compounded drop: 1 drop in the surgical eye 2x/day
Stop drops 30 days after surgery

Option 2: Use your insurance

In this option you can use your insurance to purchase separate bottles of prednisolone and ketorolac. If your insurance covers these, you may pay less than the compounded drops cost, but for most patients, the compounded drops are still less expensive.

If you have Medicaid/Husky/Title 19, this is usually the least expensive option, as these programs normally cover the full cost of these medications.

Time Medication
Starting on the day before surgery ketorolac: 1 drop in the surgical eye 4x/day
Starting after surgery ketorolac: 1 drop in the surgical eye 4x/day
prednisolone: 1 drop in the surgical eye 4x/day
Starting five days after surgery ketorolac: 1 drop in the surgical eye 2x/day
prednisolone: 1 drop in the surgical eye 2x/day
Stop both drops 30 days after surgery

If you are unable to afford your drops, or they are very expensive, there may be alternatives. Please call our office.

If you are allergic to these medications, or ones that sound similar to them, do not take them. Please call our office.