Nepafenac Ophthalmic
Nepafenac ophthalmic is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) eye drop used to treat pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 4 clinical label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
📖 Nepafenac Ophthalmic: Patient Information Guide
A plain-language walkthrough of Nepafenac Ophthalmic — what it treats, how it works, how it’s taken, side effects, warnings and interactions. Tap any section to expand it.
🎯What it's used for▾
Nepafenac ophthalmic is an NSAID eye drop used to manage eye pain and inflammation after cataract surgery.
- Ilevro 0.3% is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery
- Nevanac 0.1% is also used for pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery
⚙️How it works▾
Nepafenac is a prodrug — meaning it becomes active after you use it. Once the drop is placed in the eye, it penetrates the cornea and is converted by eye tissue into an active form called amfenac. Amfenac (and nepafenac itself) block an enzyme called cyclooxygenase (also known as prostaglandin H synthase), which the body needs to make prostaglandins — the chemicals responsible for pain and swelling. Lowering prostaglandin levels in the eye reduces post-surgical pain and inflammation.
💊How it's taken▾
Nepafenac ophthalmic is applied directly into the eye as a drop. Ilevro 0.3% is used once daily, beginning one day before cataract surgery, on the day of surgery, and continuing through the first two weeks of recovery. An extra drop is given in the 30 to 120 minutes before the surgery itself.
- If using other eye drops at the same time, wait at least 5 minutes between each one
- Do not use while wearing contact lenses
- Always follow your prescriber's exact instructions — do not use it longer than directed
🤒Side effects — in detail▾
The most common side effects (reported in about 5–10% of patients) after cataract surgery with nepafenac include:
- Capsular opacity (cloudiness behind the lens implant)
- Decreased visual acuity (reduced sharpness of vision)
- Foreign body sensation (feeling like something is in the eye)
- Increased intraocular pressure (pressure inside the eye)
- Sticky sensation in the eye
- Conjunctival edema (swelling of the white of the eye), corneal edema, dry eye, eye redness, pain, or itching (1–5% of patients)
- Headache, nausea/vomiting, high blood pressure, or sinus problems (1–4% of patients)
Stop using nepafenac and contact your doctor right away if you notice significant vision changes, unusual eye bleeding, or worsening eye surface irritation — these may indicate a serious corneal problem.
⚠️Warnings & precautions▾
- Corneal (front-of-eye) damage: In some patients, topical NSAIDs can cause serious problems including breakdown of the eye surface, corneal thinning, erosion, ulceration, or perforation — all of which can be sight-threatening. Risk is higher if you have diabetes, dry eye, rheumatoid arthritis, or have had multiple or complicated eye surgeries. Using the drops for more than 1 day before surgery or beyond 14 days after can also raise the risk.
- Increased bleeding: Nepafenac may increase bleeding time and may contribute to bleeding inside the eye (hyphema) during or after surgery. Use with extra caution if you have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning medications.
- Delayed healing: Topical NSAIDs can slow the healing of eye tissue. Using nepafenac together with topical steroid eye drops may further increase this risk.
- Contact lenses: Do not use Ilevro 0.3% while wearing contact lenses.
🔀What it interacts with▾
Nepafenac ophthalmic has a few important interactions to be aware of:
- Other topical eye medications: Can be used together with other eye drops (such as beta-blockers, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, alpha-agonists, cycloplegics, or mydriatics), but each medication must be given at least 5 minutes apart
- Topical corticosteroid (steroid) eye drops: Using both at the same time may increase the risk of delayed wound healing
- Blood-thinning medications: Nepafenac may add to their effect on bleeding time, increasing the risk of ocular bleeding during surgery
This is not a complete list of interactions. Always talk with your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
📋Before taking it▾
- Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to any NSAID (such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen) or to any ingredient in this product — use is contraindicated in those patients
- Inform your doctor if you have a bleeding disorder or take medications that slow clotting
- Let your doctor know if you have diabetes, dry eye syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, or any other eye surface disease — your risk of corneal side effects may be higher
- Do not use Ilevro 0.3% while wearing contact lenses
- Pregnancy: Nevanac 0.1% should be used during pregnancy only if clearly necessary; avoid use during late pregnancy due to potential effects on the baby's cardiovascular system (closure of the ductus arteriosus, a critical blood vessel)
- Breastfeeding: Use Nevanac 0.1% with caution — it is unknown whether this drug passes into human breast milk
- Children: Safety and effectiveness of Nevanac 0.1% have not been established in children under 10 years of age
- Older adults: No meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness compared to younger adults have been observed
🔬Pharmacokinetics — how your body processes it▾
After eye drops are applied, small but measurable amounts of nepafenac and its active form, amfenac, are absorbed into the bloodstream — typically detectable within 2 to 3 hours of dosing. Blood levels remain very low (well under 1 nanogram per milliliter), which means systemic effects are minimal. Studies show that nepafenac does not meaningfully interfere with liver enzymes (the cytochrome P450 system) that process many other drugs, making drug-drug interactions through this pathway unlikely. Interactions through protein binding are also considered unlikely at these low blood concentrations.
📦How to store it▾
Store at 2°C to 25°C (36°F to 77°F). Protect from light.
📄 Written from Nepafenac Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Every point is grounded in that labeling — nothing is invented. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Nepafenac Ophthalmic
9 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Nepafenac Ophthalmic in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Major · 2
- Moderate · 6
- Minor · 1
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Nutrient depletion considerations
Nepafenac Ophthalmic has been associated with lower levels of 1 nutrient in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
🩺 Pharmacist Counseling Corner
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Nepafenac Ophthalmic — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
What exactly is this eye drop for? ▾
How do I use it and when do I start? ▾
Can I wear my contact lenses while using this? ▾
What side effects should I watch out for? ▾
I take a blood thinner — is this drop safe for me? ▾
Can I use this drop if I'm pregnant or breastfeeding? ▾
Is Nepafenac Ophthalmic available over the counter? ▾
When was Nepafenac Ophthalmic first available? ▾
Who makes Nepafenac Ophthalmic? ▾
💬 Answers drafted from Nepafenac Ophthalmic’s FDA-approved label information, summarized in plain language with AI, and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Grounded in that labeling — nothing is made up. How we use AI →
🧰 Keep exploring
💊 How Nepafenac Ophthalmic comes
Nepafenac Ophthalmic is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Eye drops
How this form is used
- Ilevro 0.3% is used to treat pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery
- Nevanac 0.1% is used to treat pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery
- Ilevro 0.3%: apply one drop to the affected eye once daily, starting 1 day before cataract surgery, on the day of surgery, and through the first 2 weeks after surgery
- Ilevro 0.3%: apply one additional drop 30 to 120 minutes before the surgical procedure
- If using Ilevro 0.3% with other eye drops, wait at least 5 minutes between each medication
- Do not use Ilevro 0.3% while wearing contact lenses
📊 Nepafenac Ophthalmic across the U.S. market
How Nepafenac Ophthalmic appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
Share of FDA-listed product records by manufacturer — FDA National Drug Code Directory. Record counts are not sales or prescription volume.
📈 How widely Nepafenac Ophthalmic is used
A general measure of how commonly Nepafenac Ophthalmic is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q1–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Nepafenac Ophthalmic is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Nepafenac Ophthalmic prescribed? Of the 1,596 medications we measure, Nepafenac Ophthalmic ranks #1,306 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 18% of them.
Utilization by Nepafenac Ophthalmic product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
nepafenac 3 MG/ML Ophthalmic Suspension Most dispensed
Summed across the 2 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1362132
nepafenac 1 MG/ML Ophthalmic Suspension
Summed across the 1 of 3 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 578044
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Nepafenac Ophthalmic, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 3 of 6 listed Nepafenac Ophthalmic NDCs with Medicaid activity.
🔍 Compare Nepafenac Ophthalmic products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Nepafenac Ophthalmic — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Eye drops | ||||
| 1 mg/mL | Ophthalmic | Alcon Laboratories, Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1 mg/mL | Ophthalmic | Harrow Eye, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| 3 mg/mL | Ophthalmic | Harrow Eye, LLC | NDA | View NDC → |
| 1 mg/mL | Ophthalmic | Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation × 2 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
| 3 mg/mL | Ophthalmic | Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation × 3 listings | NDA | View NDC → |
Showing 8 of 8 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 8 Nepafenac Ophthalmic NDCs →
📈 What people report — real-world data (FDA FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Nepafenac Ophthalmic — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Nepafenac Ophthalmic in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
🏛️ The road to your pharmacy
How Nepafenac Ophthalmic went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
🚨 Recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
Source: openFDA drug enforcement (recall) reports.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 298665 1 dose form · 2 strengths
-
Dose form (SCDF) Ophthalmic Suspension RxCUI 578043In current FDA listings
Look up RxCUI 298665 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
📦 Supply & shortage status
Whether Nepafenac Ophthalmic is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
🏷️ Sold under these brand names
🏭 Manufacturers & labelers
RxNorm drug class
Nepafenac Ophthalmic belongs to the Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
🔬 Where this comes from
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How we combine label and product data
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records; we don’t author the underlying clinical facts. We identified 4 FDA-filed SPL label sets within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. The representative label is the starting point for the displayed reference monograph; the 12 largest stored in-scope SPL records, which may include that representative, are compared section by section, and the longest available version of each section is retained. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, product-listed strengths, and product-record counts are aggregated separately from ingredient-matched FDA NDC Directory records; package records listed above are associated with the linked SPL; and the normalized concept hierarchy comes from NLM RxNorm.
Where a section is identified as AI-written, its plain-language text is generated from bounded label evidence. New draft drug pages remain in the admin review queue before first publication. Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates; it is not the sole source used for the page.
This is general education, not medical advice — always consult your doctor or pharmacist about your medications and any medical condition. For the exact wording of the linked representative label, view that label on DailyMed; some displayed composite sections may come from other in-scope SPL labels. Learn how we use AI and our data sources & update cadence.