Nepafenac is a prescription medicine (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug). The sections below reproduce one FDA label for it, named under "Label". Products in other forms, strengths or from other makers have their own labels, which can differ.
- Type
- Prescription only (Rx)
- Brand names
- Ilevro, Nevanac
- Drug class
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug
- Taken
- Ophthalmic
- Label
- Harrow Eye, LLC, revised April 1, 2026 · full label on DailyMed
- Generic
- No · details
What it is used for
ILEVRO ® 0.3% is indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery. ILEVRO ® 0.3% is a nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory prodrug indicated for the treatment of pain and inflammation associated with cataract surgery ( 1 ).
Forms and strengths
Sterile ophthalmic suspension 0.3%: 1.7 mL in a 4 mL bottle and 3 mL in a 4 mL bottle. Sterile ophthalmic suspension 0.3%: 3 mL in a 4 mL bottle. ( 3 )
Who should not take it (contraindications)
ILEVRO ® 0.3% is contraindicated in patients with previously demonstrated hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Hypersensitivity to any of the ingredients in the formula or to other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS). ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
Increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation ( 5.1 ) Delayed healing ( 5.2 ) Corneal effects including keratitis ( 5.3 )
5.1 Increased Bleeding Time With some NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, there exists the potential for increased bleeding time due to interference with thrombocyte aggregation. There have been reports that ocularly applied nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs may cause increased bleeding of ocular tissues (including hyphema) in conjunction with ocular surgery. It is recommended that ILEVRO ® 0.3% be used with caution in patients with known bleeding tendencies or who are receiving other medications which may prolong bleeding time.
5.2 Delayed Healing Topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3%, may slow or delay healing. Topical corticosteroids are also known to slow or delay healing. Concomitant use of topical NSAIDs and topical steroids may increase the potential for healing problems.
5.3 Corneal Effects Use of topical NSAIDs may result in keratitis. In some susceptible patients, continued use of topical NSAIDs may result in epithelial breakdown, corneal thinning, corneal erosion, corneal ulceration, or corneal perforation. These events may be sight threatening. Patients with evidence of corneal epithelial breakdown should immediately discontinue use of topical NSAIDs including ILEVRO ® 0.3% and should be closely monitored for corneal health. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs suggests that patients with complicated ocular surgeries, corneal denervation, corneal epithelial defects, diabetes mellitus, ocular surface diseases (e.g., dry eye syndrome), rheumatoid arthritis, or repeat ocular surgeries within a short period of time may be at increased risk for corneal adverse events, which may become sight threatening. Topical NSAIDs should be used with caution in these patients. Postmarketing experience with topical NSAIDs also suggests that use more than 1 day prior to surgery or use beyond 14 days post-surgery may increase patient risk and severity of corneal adverse events.
5.4 Contact Lens Wear ILEVRO ® 0.3% should not be administered while using contact lenses.
Side effects (adverse reactions)
Because clinical studies are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical studies of a drug cannot be directly compared to the rates in the clinical studies of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. Most common adverse reactions (5% to 10%) are capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure, and sticky sensation. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Harrow Eye, LLC at 1-833-4HARROW or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch .
6.1 Serious and Otherwise Important Adverse Reactions The following adverse reactions are discussed in greater detail in other sections of labeling. Increased Bleeding Time [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ] Delayed Healing [see Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] Corneal Effects [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3) ]
6.2 Ocular Adverse Reactions The most frequently reported ocular adverse reactions following cataract surgery were capsular opacity, decreased visual acuity, foreign body sensation, increased intraocular pressure (IOP), and sticky sensation. These reactions occurred in approximately 5% to 10% of patients. Other ocular adverse reactions occurring at an incidence of approximately 1% to 5% included conjunctival edema, corneal edema, dry eye, lid margin crusting, ocular discomfort, ocular hyperemia, ocular pain, ocular pruritus, photophobia, tearing, and vitreous detachment. Some of these reactions may be the consequence of the cataract surgical procedure.
6.3 Non-Ocular Adverse Reactions Non-ocular adverse reactions reported at an incidence of 1% to 4% included headache, hypertension, nausea/vomiting, and sinusitis.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, children and older adults
8.1 Pregnancy Teratogenic Effects. Pregnancy Category C: Reproduction studies performed with nepafenac in rabbits and rats at oral doses up to 10 mg/kg/day have revealed no evidence of teratogenicity due to nepafenac, despite the induction of maternal toxicity. At this dose, the animal plasma exposure to nepafenac and amfenac was approximately 70 and 630 times human plasma exposure at the recommended human topical ophthalmic dose for rats and 20 and 180 times human plasma exposure for rabbits, respectively. In rats, maternally toxic doses greater than or equal to 10 mg/kg were associated with dystocia, increased postimplantation loss, reduced fetal weights and growth, and reduced fetal survival. Nepafenac has been shown to cross the placental barrier in rats. There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Because animal reproduction studies are not always predictive of human response, ILEVRO ® 0.3% should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk to the fetus. Non-teratogenic Effects Because of the known effects of prostaglandin biosynthesis inhibiting drugs on the fetal cardiovascular system (closure of the ductus arteriosus), the use of ILEVRO ® 0.3% during late pregnancy should be avoided.
8.3 Nursing Mothers Nepafenac is excreted in the milk of lactating rats. It is not known whether this drug is excreted in human milk. Because many drugs are excreted in human milk, caution should be exercised when ILEVRO ® 0.3% is administered to a nursing woman.
8.4 Pediatric Use The safety and effectiveness of ILEVRO ® 0.3% in pediatric patients below the age of 10 years have not been established.
8.5 Geriatric Use No overall differences in safety and effectiveness have been observed between elderly and younger patients.
How it works
After topical ocular dosing, nepafenac penetrates the cornea and is converted by ocular tissue hydrolases to amfenac, a NSAID. Nepafenac and amfenac are thought to inhibit the action of prostaglandin H synthase (cyclooxygenase), an enzyme required for prostaglandin production.
Is there a generic Nepafenac?
No. The FDA has not approved a generic version yet.
Brand-name versions
Source: Drugs@FDA (via openFDA), checked October 29, 2026. Marketing status is what companies report to the FDA; whether a pharmacy stocks a product, and what your insurance covers, can differ.
Dosage:
we do not reproduce dosing instructions. The right dose depends on the person and the condition and is set by the prescriber or pharmacist. Dosage section of the full label.
Nepafenac in the news
We have not covered this medicine yet. Latest news
Recalls
No recalls matched to this medicine in FDA enforcement reports from the last 3 years (or older ones still open). Search all recalls
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Source: FDA structured product labeling, retrieved through openFDA. Label text is shown as published by the FDA, without editing; long sections are shortened, marked […]. openFDA data are not validated for clinical use — always check the current label and ask a doctor or pharmacist about your own treatment. Set ID 10f411d3-a81e-074a-e063-6294a90ab547.