THERE IS NO GENERALLY ACCEPTED EXPLANATION FOR THE MECHANISM OF ACTION OF OCULAR CORTICOSTEROIDS. HOWEVER, CORTICOSTEROIDS ARE THOUGHT TO ACT BY THE INDUCTION OF PHOSPHOLIPASE A 2 INHIBITORY PROTEINS, COLLECTIVELY CALLED LIPOCORTINS. IT IS POSTULATED THAT THESE PROTEINS CONTROL THE BIOSYNTHESIS OF POTENT MEDIATORS OF INFLAMMATION SUCH AS PROSTAGLANDINS AND LEUKOTRIENES BY INHIBITING THE RELEASE OF THEIR COMMON PRECURSOR ARACHIDONIC ACID. ARACHIDONIC ACID IS RELEASED FROM MEMBRANE PHOSPHOLIPIDS BY PHOSPHOLIPASE A 2 . CORTICOSTEROIDS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING A RISE IN INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE.