Prolensa works by blocking the enzymes that cause inflammation and pain in your eye after cataract surgery.

How Prolensa Works in Your Body

When you have cataract surgery, the procedure — even though it's quick and routine — triggers your body's natural inflammatory response. Your eye produces chemicals called prostaglandins that cause swelling, redness, and pain. It's the same process that happens when you sprain an ankle or get a cut, just happening inside your eye.

Prolensa (Bromfenac 0.07%) is an NSAID — a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug — in eye drop form. It works by blocking the COX enzymes (cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2) that your body uses to make those prostaglandins.

Think of it this way: COX enzymes are the factory, prostaglandins are the product, and Prolensa shuts down the factory. No factory running, no inflammatory chemicals flooding your eye, less pain and swelling.

This is actually the same basic mechanism as oral NSAIDs like ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve). The difference is that Prolensa is applied directly to your eye as a drop, so it works right where you need it without affecting the rest of your body.

How Long Does Prolensa Take to Work?

Prolensa begins working shortly after you instill the drop. Because it's applied directly to the eye, the active ingredient (Bromfenac) reaches the target tissues quickly.

• Pain relief: Many patients notice reduced eye pain within the first day or two of use
• Inflammation control: The anti-inflammatory effect builds over the first several days and continues through the full 14-day course
• Full benefit: Using Prolensa consistently for the entire prescribed duration gives the best results for healing

You won't necessarily "feel" the inflammation going down the way you'd feel a headache disappearing, but your ophthalmologist will see the difference on your postoperative exams — less redness, fewer inflammatory cells, and better healing.

How Long Does Prolensa Last?

Each dose of Prolensa lasts approximately 24 hours, which is why it's dosed once daily. This is one of its advantages over older ophthalmic NSAIDs:

• Prolensa (Bromfenac 0.07%): Once daily
• Ketorolac (Acular LS): Four times daily
• Diclofenac (Voltaren Ophthalmic): Four times daily
• Nevanac 0.1% (Nepafenac): Three times daily

The once-daily dosing means the drug maintains effective levels in your eye tissue throughout the day, controlling inflammation around the clock with just one drop each morning.

The full course is 14 days. After you stop, the medication clears from your eye tissue, but by that point the acute post-surgical inflammation has typically resolved.

What Makes Prolensa Different from Similar Medications?

There are several ophthalmic NSAIDs used after cataract surgery. Here's how Prolensa compares:

Once-Daily Convenience

As noted above, Prolensa's once-daily dosing is a significant advantage. Fewer doses means fewer chances to forget, less disruption to your day, and better adherence — especially when you may be juggling multiple post-surgery eye drops.

Formulation

Prolensa uses a 0.07% concentration of Bromfenac — lower than the older Bromday formulation (0.09%) — with an adjusted pH and formulation that improves penetration into the eye. This means you get effective inflammation control at a lower dose.

Compared to Alternatives

• Nevanac / Ilevro (Nepafenac): Also once-daily (Ilevro 0.3%), but a different NSAID. Nepafenac is a prodrug that gets converted to the active form inside the eye. Both are effective; choice often depends on doctor preference and insurance coverage.
• Ketorolac (Acular LS): Available as a cheap generic but requires four doses per day. Often used as first-line step therapy by insurance plans.
• Diclofenac (Voltaren Ophthalmic): Another generic option, also four times daily.

For a full comparison of alternatives, see our guide on alternatives to Prolensa.

Not a Steroid

Prolensa is sometimes confused with steroid eye drops (like prednisolone), which are also used after cataract surgery. They're different:

• Steroids suppress the immune response broadly and can raise eye pressure (intraocular pressure) with prolonged use
• NSAIDs like Prolensa specifically block prostaglandin production without the steroid-related side effects

Many surgeons prescribe both a steroid and an NSAID after cataract surgery for complementary anti-inflammatory coverage.

Final Thoughts

Prolensa works by blocking COX enzymes to stop prostaglandin production in your eye — reducing the inflammation and pain that naturally follow cataract surgery. Its once-daily dosing, effective penetration, and targeted delivery make it a popular choice among ophthalmologists.

If you'd like to know more about what the medication is and how it's used, see What Is Prolensa? For information on side effects to watch for, read our side effects guide.

Need to fill your prescription? Search Medfinder to find Prolensa in stock near you.