Effects of Various Lubricants on Corneal Surface Regularity in Rabbits

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish a method for analysis of tear film stability and thereby to investigate the effects of lubricants on corneal surface regularity and corneal epithelial damage in anesthetized rabbits with the eye held open. Saline-instilled and noninstilled eyes manifested a time-dependent increase in the corneal surface regularity index (SRI). In contrast, 0.1% hyaluronic acid (HA) prevented the increase in the SRI for up to 20 min after instillation. Methylene blue uptake into the damaged cornea was significantly greater in eyes that received saline than in those treated with HA. Whereas eyes instilled with 0.5% methylcellulose (MC) or 0.35% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) manifested an increase in the SRI similar to that apparent in those that received saline, 1.0% chondroitin sulfate (CS) prevented the increase in the SRI for up to 10 min after instillation. In conclusion, we have established a method for analysis of tear film stability in rabbits. Our results suggest that tear film stability is closely related to corneal surface damage and that topical instillation of 0.1% HA or 1.0% chondroitin sulfate warrants further investigation as a potential treatment for patients with dry eye.

Evaluation of corneal optical properties in subjects wearing hydrogel etafilcon A contact lenses and the effect of administering mannitol-enriched sodium hyaluronate ophthalmic solution

“… 6 , 15 , 37 The improved optical quality of the cornea in subjects administering daily hypertonic hyaluronate-enriched lubricant solution could be ascribed to both corneal deswelling and decreased microir-regularities on the corneal first surface as a result of tear film stabilization. 10 , 11 , 15 , 38 , 39 No correlation was found between BCVA and decreased corneal scattering ( R =−0.08; P =0.87) or decreased total HOA ( R =−0.06; P =0.89) during follow-up.…”

Comparison of In Vivo Efficacy of Different Ocular Lubricants in Dry Eye Animal Models

“…Our findings support the reports that SH treatment is better in healing corneal lesions, in reducing the degree of keratitis, and in increasing corneal surface regularity than CMC. 15,16 The underlying mechanisms of protection from desiccation by SH could be explained, at least in part, by our immunohistochemical study of the epithelial barrier function protein assay. Human corneal epithelial cells pretreated with 0.3% SH had significantly more intact epithelial-cell tight junctions than the other lubricants.…”

Effects of topical hyaluronic acid on corneal wound healing in dogs: a pilot study

“…An additional benefit of hyaluronic acid which PBS lacks is its ability to promote precorneal tear film stability . Precorneal tear film is needed for maintenance of a healthy ocular surface as it provides oxygen and various growth factors to the avascular cornea.…”