Evaluation of the analgesic effect of 0.1% indomethacin solution on corneal abrasions

Purpose: The authors wished to verify the analgesic action of 0.1% indometh acin in a water-based solution on patients affected by traumatic corneal ab rasions. Methods: 347 patients affected by traumatic corneal abrasions, having been randomly divided into 2 groups on the basis of the administration of indome thacin, were evaluated at 30 min, 12 h and 24 h after the initial treatment of the abrasion. The level of pain experienced was evaluated on a verbal p ain scale and the healing time was evaluated relative to the dimension of t he abrasion. Results: The pain level was initially overwhelming for both groups: p = 0.7 37; at successive check-ups it was possible to verify a reduction of the sy mptomatology, with a more pronounced decrease in pain in the group treated with indomethacin (p < 0.0001), which also demonstrated a lower sensitivity to pain in the case of larger lesions (p < 0.0001). There was no differenc e in the healing time between groups, and the reduction of pain is not corr elated with corneal anesthesia and healing time. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the efficacy of indomethacin as a pain r educer for acute corneal pathology and suggested that the medication may ac t on the corneal nociceptors in a qualitative way. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Ka rger AG, Basel.