Abstract
· Background: The effect of 0.1% dexamethasone on epithelial healing was evaluated in corneal alkali wounds. · Methods: Epithelial wounds were induced by a 60-s application of a round filter paper (5.5 mm) soaked in 1 N NaOH onto the central cornea of the rabbit. Animals were treated with 0.1% dexamethasone 4 times each day for 8 weeks in one subgroup and only for the 1st week in the other subgroup. The control eyes were treated with a balanced salt solution. The repair processes of epithelium and its basement membrane were evaluated morphologically and morphometrically. · Results: Treatment with 0.1% dexamethasone was found to retard the repair process of epithelial healing compared with the control eyes. Morphologically, the basement membrane in the control cornea was damaged focally at 2 days, maximally disrupted at 4 weeks, and regained the normal integrity at 8 weeks after the initial alkali damage. In 0.1% dexamethasone-treated corneas, regardless of the application period, the basement membrane structure was visible up to 4 weeks but disappeared at 8 weeks after the initial alkali wounds. The eyes treated with 0.1% dexamethasone for 8 weeks showed an intense infiltration of inflammatory cells in the superficial stroma 4 weeks after treatment. · Conclusion: A topical application of 0.1% dexamethasone retarded the corneal epithelial healing. The cornea treated with 0.1% dexamethasone only for the 1st week maintained a well-preserved basement membrane for as long as 4 weeks after initial damage without enhancement of the inflammatory cell infiltration. However, further study is needed to prevent late disintegration of the basement membrane.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 18 August 1997 Revised version received: 6 October 1997 Accepted: 13 November 1997
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chung, JH., Kang, YG. & Kim, HJ. Effect of 0.1% dexamethasone on epithelial healing in experimental corneal alkali wounds: morphological changes during the repair process. Graefe's Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 236, 537–545 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004170050118
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004170050118