THE EFFECT OF TEAR SUBSTITUTE AND SILICONE OIL ON REEPITHILIALIZATIONOF THE CORNEA

Purpose An animal model study was conducted to compare the effects of recurrent applications of an artificial cellulosic tear substitute and silicone oil on corneal re-epithelisation. Methods A controlled wound was inflicted to the corneas of two groups of rabbits; one group was treated with tear substitute (5 eyes), while the other group received silicone oil (5 eyes). The left eye served as the control in both grou ps (10 eyes). The rate of re-epithelisation was measured at intervals of 6 h until complete wound closure was observed. After complete wound closure, the rabbits were killed and histological examinations were p erformed. Results The wounds of eyes treated with tear substitute clos ed at a statistically significant faster rate (at 24, 44, 80 h; p<0.05 ) than those treated with silicone oil or the untreated eyes. At 48 h after re-epithelisation, the eyes treated with tear substitute present ed a normal epithelium while the untreated and silicone-treated eyes p resented an abnormally structured epithelium. Conclusion This study de monstrates a favourable effect of tear substitute on corneal re-epithe lisation in an animal model, in terms of both rate of re-epithelisatio n and histological aspects of the new epithelium.