Effect of topical antiglaucoma drugs on corneal epithelium wound healing in rabbits

ABSTRACT

Topical antiglaucoma drugs had been used frequently in treatment of different types of glaucoma. Some of these drugs cause inhibition of corneal epithelial wound healing. So, this study aimed to determine the toxic effect of topical antiglaucoma drugs on corneal epithelium of the rabbit. In the present study, seven antiglaucoma drugs [[1] Timolol maleate 0.5%; [2] Apraclonidine HCI 0.5%; [3] Dipvefrin HCI 0.1%; [4] Betoxolol HCI 0.5% [5] Levobunolol HCI 0.5%, [6] Befunolol HCI 0.5%, and [7] Pilocarpine HCI 2%] in their therapeutic concentrations were applied to the cornea of the rabbit which undergone mechanical removal of the epithelium 8 mm in diameter.The rate of healing of conreal wound in saline treated controls was found significant if compared with antiglaucoma drugs.Drugs 5,6,7 demonstrated more rapid healing than drugs 1, 2, 3, 4. In this study, anti glaucoma drugs appear to have toxic effect on the corneal epithelial wound healing specially drug 2 followed by drugs 1, 3, 4