To compare the effects of anti-inflammatory agents, specifically bromfenac, loteprednol, and prednisolone, on the permeability of cultured human trabecular meshwork cell (HTMC) monolayers.

HTMCs were cultured until confluency in the inner chamber of Transwell, then exposed to 1/1,000 or 1/500 diluted commercial 0.1% bromfenac, 0.5% loteprednol, and 1% prednisolone for 24 hours. The permeabilities of carboxyfluorescein through the HTMC monolayer were measured with a spectrofluorometer after 2 hours in the outer chamber. Cellular viabilities were assessed with an 3-[4,5–dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.

Bromfenac and loteprednol diluted at 1/1,000 or 1/500 did not significantly affect the cellular survival ( p > 0.05). Bromfenac did not affect the permeability via the HTMC monolayer ( p > 0.05) and loteprednol decreased the permeability ( p < 0.05). In addition, 1/2,000 prednisolone also decreased the permeability ( p < 0.05).

Among the anti-inflammatory agents, the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent bromfenac did not affect the permeability, while loteprednol and prednisolone decreased the permeability through the HTMC monolayer. Thus, loteprednol and prednisolone may decrease the trabecular outflow.