The preoperative bacteriological diagnostic of the conjunctiva is important mainly for the prevention of postoperative endophthalmitis despite the transience and fluctuation of the conjunctival flora but also in case of endophthalmitis for rapid specific antibiotical therapy.

In animal experiments and a clinical study of chemically burned eyes the anti-inflammatory effect of topically applied steroids and indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase) was investigated. Both the animal model and the clinical tests indicate the desirability of immediate local application of dexamethasone eyedrops 0.1% under careful biomicroscopic control of the burned eye and with local antibiotics. The use of topical steroids is a part of the authors' treatment for moderately severe and severe chemical eye burns (second degree, beginning third degree). However, this anti-inflammatory therapy cannot be recommended with indomethacin alone, because of the leukotriene-induced, increased infiltration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and corneal ulceration.

S 872419 A, a specific receptor antagonist of peptide leukotrienes, was tested in the early-phase treatment of chemically burned eye (0.25 mol/l sodium hydroxide) of the rabbit. The drug was topically applied 5 times a day in a 1% solution, controls were the untreated opposite eye. Gross and microscopic investigations indicated that S 872419 A inhibits the inflammatory response of the chemically burned anterior eye segment. The parameters of healing considered (epithelial regeneration, corneal clouding and swelling, infiltration with polymorphonuclear leukocytes) suggest inhibition of lipoxygenase-mediated reactions in the tissue. PGF2 alpha levels were the same in aqueous humour of treated and untreated eyes. Further experiments with S 872419 A and other nonsteroidal drugs should improve the anti-inflammatory therapy of the chemically burned eye.

The "Keratoplasty according to Putschkowskaja" can be useful as "living contact lens" besides other surgical measures for treatment (primary conservation of the bulbus) of excessive cornea defects. It seems that the existence of Bowman and Descemet membrane in the transplant prevents the decomposition of the donor cornea for a rather long time. By then the cornea defect has often healed leaving scars.

BN 52 021, a specific antagonist of PAF receptors, was tested in the early-phase treatment of chemically burned eyes in 30 rabbits. The local application of BN 52 021 eyedrops-1% (water-soluble preparation, 5 times daily, in comparison with the other eye as a control) led to a visible anti-inflammatory effect (microscopically and macroscopically) of the chemically burned anterior eye segment. There was only a moderate increase of the concentration of PGF2 alpha after the chemical burn. The use of specific PAF antagonists seems to have a real chance for treatment of inflammatory reactions of the anterior eye segment. A combination with other mediator antagonists should be tested in further experiments.