Effect of diclofenac, ketorolac, and fluorometholone on arachidonic acid metabolites following excimer laser corneal surgery.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the ability of several topical anti-inflammatory agents to modulate the production of prostaglandin E2 after excimer laser ablation in rabbit cornea.

METHODS

Adult New Zealand white rabbits were subjected to phototherapeutic keratectomy with a commercially available excimer laser. Prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 were detected by enzyme-linked immunoassay, and leukocyte infiltration was determined histologically.

RESULTS

Prostaglandin E2 and leukocyte infiltration increased in the cornea after excimer ablation. Treatment with topical fluorometholone and diclofenac sodium significantly reduced prostaglandin E2 levels. Corneas treated with diclofenac had significantly higher levels of leukocyte infiltration than those treated with ketorolac tromethamine. No changes in leukotriene B4 levels were detected in this model.

CONCLUSIONS

As a group, topical anti-inflammatory medications tend to lower prostaglandin E2 levels in rabbit corneas subjected to excimer ablation, but differ in their ability to reduce polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration. Further work is needed in this model to understand how these drugs alter leukocyte infiltration of the remaining stromal bed.