In this work cornea lipid model monolayers, at the air-water interface, containing different percentages of cholesterol were developed. The different membrane models were characterized by the compression isotherms, compressibility and area per molecule values. The influence of cholesterol variations on the interaction of flurbiprofen sodium with the lipid monolayers was also studied, by penetration kinetics of the drug into the monolayers at different initial surface pressures (5, 10 and 20 mN m(-1)). The results obtained suggest that the cholesterol content is a factor to consider in the interaction of flurbiprofen sodium with the cornea models.