Intervention: Salicylhydroxamic Acid
Trial phase: Phase 1 | Phase 2
SMILES: O=C(NO)c1ccccc1O
Sex: All
Age groups: Adult | Older Adult
Healthy volunteers: No
Participants at risk: 15
Group description: Patients will be sequentially randomized to treatment with a "sham" injection at the time of surgery. The sham injection is accomplished by pressing an empty syringe against the eye wall without penetration. This will be administered post cataract excision by the Prinicipal Investigator. The patient will be masked as to which Arm they are assigned.

Sham: Sham injection. No actual injection. No medication is used.
Eligibility criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

A patient must meet the following criteria to be eligible for inclusion in the study:

Must be 18 years of age and older, of any race and either sex, who have a cataract, and are planning to undergo cataract extraction by phacoemulsification with the implantation of a posterior chamber intraocular lens into the lens capsule
History of Type I or Type II diabetes
NPDR: non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (mild, moderate, or severe) or inactive proliferative disease in the study eye as defined by the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale
Willing and able to comply with clinic visits and study-related procedures
Patients must be able to understand and sign an informed consent that has been approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Central subfield macular thickness ≤ 320 μm in the study eye prior to cataract surgery as determined by SD-OCT and confirmed by the reading center
Absence of clinically significant macular edema (CSME) in the study eye as detected by clinical exam
Patients must have visual acuity of 20/20-20/200

Exclusion Criteria:

A patient who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:

Signs of vitreomacular traction or epiretinal membrane in the study eye as detected by reading center or investigator
Current or previous ocular disease in the study eye that in the opinion of the investigator may confound assessment of the macula, the retina, or central vision other that diabetic retinopathy
Active proliferative diabetic retinopathy in the study eye
Planned multiple procedures for study eye during the cataract/IOL implantation surgery (e.g., trabeculectomy, corneal transplant)
Patients who have received corneal transplants in the study eye
Patients with current or history of chronic or recurrent ocular infections or inflammation in the study eye
Patients with a visually nonfunctional fellow eye based upon the assessment by the investigator
Patients who are immunocompromised (e.g., patients receiving chemotherapy irradiation therapy, patients with AIDS, leukemia, or cachexia) or patients receiving dialysis
Use of medications known to affect the macula, including hydroxychloroquinine (Plaquenil) and phenothiozines (e.g., thioridazine [Mellaril], chloropromazine [Thorazine]) or supplemental niacin ≥3 grams/day
Use of systemic steroids, NSAIDS (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), anti-VEGF agents within 7 days prior to surgery (through study exit). Daily doses of aspirin, up to 325 mg, will be permitted.
Use of topical ocular NSAIDS and steroids, in the study eye, within 7 days prior to surgery
Treatment with intraocular or periocular steroids in the study eye within 3 months prior to surgery
Focal photocoagulation for the treatment of diabetic macular edema in the study eye within 6 months of the pre-operative baseline visit (Note: peripheral retina treatment for retinal tear or lattice degeneration is permitted)
Intravitreal anti-VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) treatment in the study eye within 6 months of the pre-operative baseline visit
Patients with a known hypersensitivity to NSAIDs or steroids or any component of the study medication.
Use of a topical ophthalmic prostaglandin (e.g., TRAVATAN, XALATAN) within 4 days of surgery through study exit
Any concurrent intraocular condition in the study eye that, in the opinion of the investigator, could require either medical or surgical intervention during the 90 day study period.
Any concurrent ocular condition in the study eye which, in the opinion of the investigator, could either increase the risk to the patient beyond what is to be expected from standard procedures of intraocular injection, or which otherwise may interfere with the injection procedure or with evaluation of efficacy or safety.
Pregnant or breast-feeding women -