Inflammatory Mediators in Postoperative Aphakic and Pseudophakic Baboon Eyes

We measured prostaglandin E₂ and leukotriene B₄ in the aqueous humor of baboon eyes, 1 or 8 days after phacoemulsification, with or without posterior chamber lens implantation. We also evaluated the effects of steroid eye drops and cyclooxygenase inhibitor eye drops on the synthesis of these mediators of inflammation. Eyes that had undergone phacoemulsification showed significant elevation of prostaglandin E₂ at both postoperative periods compared with normal, phakic control eyes. The level of prostaglandin E₂ was significantly (P<.05) higher in eyes with posterior chamber lens implantation than in those without it, and was significantly (P<.05) higher on the eighth than on the first postoperative day. The amount of leukotriene B₄ was below the detection limit, except in the few eyes in which complications developed. Cyclooxygenase inhibitor eye drops significantly reduced the amount of prostaglandin E₂ on both postoperative days, while steroid eye drops had no such effect.