ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Alkaline corneal epithelial wound closure rates in rabbit eyes were compared after topical applications of amniotic membrane suspension, autologous serum, or preservative-free artificial tears. METHODS: Thirty rabbits were divided into 3 randomization groups of 10 rabbits each. Central corneal alkali wound was produced in both eyes of the rabbits by applying a 5-mm round filter paper, soaked in 1 N NaOH, for 60 seconds. Group 1 animals received preservative-free artificial tears in 1 eye and amniotic membrane suspension in the other eye; group 2 animals received preservative-free artificial tears in 1 eye and autologous serum in the other eye; and group 3 animals received autologous serum in 1 eye and amniotic membrane suspension in the other eye. The treatment was dosed 4 times a day with the eyedrops, and epithelial wound closure was recorded using slit lamp. The data were analyzed to determine the rate of wound closure. RESULTS: The mean wound radius closure rate was 67.8 +/- 5.2 microm/h for autologous serum-treated eyes, 74.5 +/- 5.4 microm/h for amniotic membrane suspension-treated eyes, and 66.8 +/- 5.0 microm/h for preservative-free artificial tear-treated eyes. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that alkali-injured corneal epithelial wounds heal faster when treated with amniotic membrane suspension than with autologous serum or preservative-free artificial tears.
