Prevention of cystoid macular edema after lens extraction by topical indomethacin (III) radioimmunoassay measurement of prostaglandins in the aqueous during and after lens extraction procedures.

The amounts of Prostaglandin (PG) E and F2alpha in the aqueous humor were measured by radioimmunoassay techniques before and immediately after intracapsular and extracapsular cataract extractions. We found that: 1. The levels of PG E and PG F2alpha are elevated by cataract extraction. 2. The elevated levels of PGs can all be prevented by preoperative applications of topical indomethacin. 3. No differences in the amounts of PGs biosynthesized during intracapsular and extracapsular lens extraction were found. 4. In some cases, the levels of PG E were still elevated one week after surgery. These findings were used as the basis for our attempts to define the causes of cystoid macular edema (CME) following lens extractions.