Evaluation of the Analgesic Effect of 0.1% Indomethacin Solution on Corneal Abrasions

Abstract

Purpose: 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.