The effect of indomethacin on prostaglandin E2 in human cornea and conjunctiva.

We studied the inhibitory effect of topical 1% indomethacin aqueous suspension on prostaglandin E2 in 20 conjunctivae extracted during cataract surgery and 16 corneas extracted during penetrating keratoplasty. Thirty minutes before each surgical procedure, indomethacin or placebo (0.9% sodium chloride solution) was instilled into the eye to be operated on in a masked fashion for conjunctiva and selectively for cornea. The excised corneal buttons and conjunctival tissue were homogenized and assayed for prostaglandin E2 concentration using radioimmunoassay. The levels of prostaglandin E2 in the conjunctiva significantly decreased (P less than .0033) after administration of indomethacin (203.7 +/- 219.5 pg/mg) compared with the placebo-treated tissues (849.8 +/- 564.1 pg/mg). The levels of prostaglandin E2 in the corneas significantly decreased (P less than .0157) after administration of indomethacin (522.5 +/- 570.2 pg in the cornea) compared with the placebo-treated tissues (1636.3 +/- 1344.1 pg in the cornea). Indomethacin may serve as a potent anti-inflammatory agent in conjunctival and corneal inflammatory disorders.