Flurbiprofen in the Treatment of Corneal Neovascularization Induced by Contact Lenses

Cellulose acetate butyrate extended-wear contact lenses were fitted bilaterally on ten New Zealand albino rabbits. We administered flurbiprofen 0.03% solution topically to the experimental eyes and vehicle solution to the contralateral control eyes four times a day in a random, masked fashion beginning 24 hours before the contact lens was fitted. Corneal neovascularization, which developed in all eyes by the 25th day of contact lens wear, was significantly suppressed by flurbiprofen treatment (mean vessel length was 1.5 +/- 0.4 mm for the treated eyes and 3.0 +/- 0.3 mm for the control eyes; P less than .005). Topical administration of a noncorticosteroidal anti-inflammatory agent may be an effective treatment for corneal neovascularization induced by contact lenses.