Prevention of postoperative ocular hypertension by prostaglandin inhibitors.

The Pneumatonometer of Langham was used to monitor intraocular pressure in the operating theatre and in the early postoperative period after cataract surgery. Both indomethacin and aspirin were shown to prodcue a significant reduction in the acute ocular hypertension which can be expected to follow 6 hours after routine cataract surgery. It is suggested that the inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis by these drugs is probably responsible for this effect.