Topical analgesia for superficial corneal injuries.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the analgesic effects of a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, flurbiprofen 0.03%, during healing after superficial corneal injuries.


METHODS
401 patients treated for corneal abrasion in a five month period were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: polyvinyl alcohol alone (control), homatropine 2%, flurbiprofen 0.03%, or homatropine 2% followed by flurbiprofen 0.03%. Treatments were given for 48 h. Ocular pain was recorded on a visual analogue scale by the patients over the first 24 h, and use of oral analgesics was also recorded. Usable responses were received from 224 patients (55.8%).


RESULTS
Patients treated with flurbiprofen had significantly lower pain scores for the 24 h duration of the study than controls (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Flurbiprofen eye drops provide more effective pain relief than traditional treatments for superficial corneal injuries.
Brahma
A K
AK
Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Shah
S
S
Hillier
V F
VF
McLeod
D
D
Sabala
T
T
Brown
A
A
Marsden
J
J
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005480:Flurbiprofen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014326:Tropanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D014326:Tropanes; D005480:Flurbiprofen; C100236:homatropine; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol