Topical 0.5% indomethacin, 0.01% flurbiprofen, 1% prednisolone acetate, 0.1% dexamethasone, or 0.1% fluorometholone pretreatment and daily instillation did not affect the course of re-epithelialization after partial corneal epithelial denudation. However, topical 1% prednisolone acetate, 0.1% dexamethasone, and 0.1% fluorometholone--but not 0.5% indomethacin and 0.01% flurbiprofen--significantly retarded re-epithelialization after complete corneal denudation.