For the treatment of cytomegalovirus retinitis, the sustained-release ganciclovir implant is more effective than intravenous ganciclovir, but patients treated with a ganciclovir implant alone remain at greater risk for the development of cytomegalovirus disease outside of the treated eye.

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Aim-To test the eYcacy and safety of recombinant human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) on corneal reepithelialisation following penetrating keratoplasty. Methods-A prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study was carried out in which patients were matched for diagnosis and received either hEGF ophthalmic solution (30 µg/ml or 100 µg/ml) or placebo in a double masked fashion. Matched pairs of patients received donor corneas from the same donor and were operated by the same surgeon on the same day. At the end of surgery all donor epithelium was removed mechanically. Patients were examined twice daily and fluorescein stained photographs were taken until the epithelium had closed. The area of the defect was measured by planimetry of the fluorescein stained defect on the photographs. Results-There were no significant diVerences in re-epithelialisation of the donor cornea between the placebo group and the group treated with 30 µg/ml hEGF. Time until complete closure was slightly longer with 100 µg/ml hEGF compared with 30 µg/ml hEGF and with placebo. Mean healing rate of the epithelial defect with 100 µg/ml hEGF was significantly slower than in the other groups. Conclusion-No significant acceleration of corneal re-epithelialisation was demonstrated with the use of recombinant hEGF after penetrating keratoplasty in humans. (Br J Ophthalmol 1997;81:391-395)