ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To investigate the short-term effects of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF-PEMF) on the healing of alkaline-burned corneas in rabbits. METHODS: Fifty-six alkaline-burned corneas from 56 rabbits were categorized into four groups: ELF-PEMF therapy with 2 mTesla (mT) intensity (ELF 2) for 30 minutes twice daily, ELF-PEMF therapy with 5 mT intensity (ELF 5) for 30 minutes twice daily, medical therapy (MT), and controls. Clinical examination together with digital photography of the corneas was performed on days 0, 2, 7, and 14. After euthanizing the rabbits, affected eyes were evaluated by way of histopathology. Finally the clinical and the histopathologic results of the four groups were compared. RESULTS: None of the cases developed limbal ischemia, symblepharon formation, Descemetocele, or corneal perforation. Although the area of corneal defect in the ELF groups on day 2 was significantly less than the defects in MT, it was not notably different from those on days 7 and 14. Rate of significant corneal neovascularization on days 7 and 14 was not statistically different between the groups. The keratocyte loss in MT was significantly higher than in the ELF groups. Mild stromal scar formation was observed more frequently in ELF-PEMF groups than the control. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term ELF-PEMF therapy is a safe, noninvasive, and markedly effective method in healing alkaline-burned corneas, and its therapeutic results are comparable with those of MT.
Subject(s)
Burns, Chemical/radiotherapy , Corneal Injuries , Electromagnetic Fields , Eye Burns/radiotherapy , Wound Healing/physiology , Alkalies/toxicity , Animals , Burns, Chemical/pathology , Cornea/pathology , Cornea/radiation effects , Disease Models, Animal , Eye Burns/pathology , Female , Rabbits , Radiation Dosage , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
He-Ne laser stimulation was used in multiple-modality treatment of 512 patients with various corneal conditions: 217 with perforating wounds, 75 with chemical and thermal burns, 48 with ulcers of various origins, and 162 with endothelial-epithelial dystrophy resulting from cataract extraction with implantation of the intraocular lens. A course of treatment consisted of 6 to 10 daily 3 min exposures at radiation power density of 50-100 micro W/cm2 on the cornea. The effect achieved by laser stimulation was significantly superior to that of routine methods of treatment used in the reference groups. He-Ne laser stimulation was conducive to a sooner reduction of the inflammatory processes, to recovery of the corneal sensitivity and epithelialization, and to shortening hospital treatment.
Subject(s)
Cornea/radiation effects , Corneal Diseases/radiotherapy , Corneal Injuries , Eye Burns/radiotherapy , Laser Therapy , Burns, Chemical/complications , Cataract Extraction/adverse effects , Combined Modality Therapy , Corneal Diseases/etiology , Corneal Diseases/surgery , Corneal Ulcer/radiotherapy , Corneal Ulcer/surgery , Eye Burns/chemically induced , Eye Burns/surgery , Female , Humans , Lenses, Intraocular/adverse effects , Male , Postoperative CareABSTRACT
Clinical trial of eye films with apilac used in complex treatment of 47 patients with thermic and chemical corneal burns has shown acceleration of corneal epithelialization in 37 (78.7%) patients as compared with the control group. Rise of visual acuity from 0.1-0.4 to 0.5-0.9 was recorded in patients with burns of a moderate degree and from 0.005-0.02 to 0.03-0.07--with severe eye burns. Better results after apilac therapy were observed when the films were used in combination with low-intensity helium-neon laser radiation of the cornea.
