Evaluation of the analgesic effect of 0.1% indomethacin solution on corneal abrasions.
OBJECTIVE
The authors wished to verify the analgesic action of 0.1% indomethacin in a water-based solution on patients affected by traumatic corneal abrasions.


METHODS
347 patients affected by traumatic corneal abrasions, having been randomly divided into 2 groups on the basis of the administration of indomethacin, 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 pain scale and the healing time was evaluated relative to the dimension of the abrasion.


RESULTS
The pain level was initially overwhelming for both groups: p = 0.737; at successive check-ups it was possible to verify a reduction of the symptomatology, 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 difference in the healing time between groups, and the reduction of pain is not correlated with corneal anesthesia and healing time.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study highlighted the efficacy of indomethacin as a pain reducer for acute corneal pathology and suggested that the medication may act on the corneal nociceptors in a qualitative way.
Patrone
G
G
Department of Neuroscience and Vision, Section of Ophthalmology R, University of Genoa, Italy.
Sacca
S C
SC
Macri
A
A
Rolando
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003315:Cornea / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D007213:Indomethacin