Purpose: The effects of anti-inflammatory non-steroidal therapy combin
ed with free-radical scavengers were studied and compared to corticost
eroid use in the treatment of experimental corneal injury. Method: Eig
hty New Zealand albino rabbits were used in this study. A corneal alka
li burn was induced by applying 1-N NaOH filter paper on the central a
xis of the right cornea for 30 s. Animals were distributed into five t
reatment groups: group 1 (control group) was only given gentamicin; gr
oup 2 was treated with 0.5% dimethylthiourea (DMU); group 3 received 1
% dexamethasone; group 4 was given combined 0.5% DMU and 1% indomethac
in; group 5 was treated with 0.5% DMU and 0.1% diclofenac sodium. One
50-mu l drop of gentamicin was instilled every 12 h, whereas the other
drugs were instilled every 6 h (50 mu l). All groups received the sam
e antibiotic treatment as the control group. The animals were killed o
n the 5th day. Inflammatory index, area and perimeter of the wounded c
orneal zone, and corneal transparency were evaluated. Results: No sign
ificant differences in the inflammatory index were found between the t
reatment groups and the control group after 72 h. Significant differen
ces (p < 0.001) were observed at 24 h in groups 3-5 when compared with
the control group. Planimetry showed significant differences in group
4 when compared with the other groups (p < 0.05). Corneal transparenc
y study showed statistically significantly better values in groups 4 a
nd 5, when compared with the other groups, including group 3 (p < 0.05
). Conclusions: The use of 0.5% DMU combined with 1% indomethacin can
be considered an alternative to corticosteroid treatment in our experi
mental chemical corneal injury.