The Effect of Topically Applied Sodium-hyaluronic acid(Na-HA) on Corneal Epithelial Healing

To evaluate the effect of Na-hyaluronic acid (Na-HA) on corneal epithelial wound healing, twenty admitted patients (twenty-four eyes) with corneal epithelial abrasion were randomly divided into 2 groups. 1% Na-HA was given 4 times daily to 12 treated eyes while 12 control cases received antibiotic ointment therapy. Epithelial defect area was photodocumented by 6-12 hours interval and individual healing rates were calculated by linear regression analysis. The healing rate of 1% Na-HA treated cornea was 1.02 +/- 0.26mm2/hour and that of the control eyes was 0.67 +/- 0.19 mm/hour(p<0.05). The result suggests that topically applied Na-HA enhances epithelial re~surfacing when compared to the antibiotics ointment.