Eighteen patients (36 eyes) entered a double-blind randomized between-eyes trial comparing 2.0% tolmetin with 0.25% prednisolone. Patients were treated for about 2 weeks (9–21 days) during which time there was a statistically significant improvement in patient symptoms and clinical signs scores in both treatment groups. No significant difference was found in treatment efficacy between tolmetin and prednisolone. Both tolmetin and 0.25% prednisolone have a mild anti-inflammatory effect, which is useful in the treatment of mild to moderate inflammation of the external eye. There was a higher incidence of discomfort in the tolmetin-treated eyes.