The effect of naproxen on the ocular inflammatory response following extracapsular lens extraction in rabbits

Naproxen effects on the ocular inflammatory response following extracapsular lens extraction were studied in rabbits. Twelve hours before surgery, rabbits were given 20 mg of a 5 mg/ml naproxen suspension by gavage. A maintenance dose of 10 mg naproxen 3 times per day was started on the day of lensectomy and continued throughout the entire observation period. Phakic and aphakic control rabbits received no drug suspension. Central corneal thickness and intraocular pressure measurements were determined pre-operatively, at 4 and 24 h post-operatively and every 24 h thereafter. Four groups of rabbits, sacrificed at 24, 48, 72, and 168 h after lensectomy, had anterior chamber paracentesis performed for PMN (polymorphonuclear leucocyte) counts and determination of protein content. A 5th group had both paracentesis and iris-ciliary body excision for PGE2 assay at 24 h. No parameter was significantly altered by the naproxen regimen compared to untreated rabbits.