Comparison of Topically Na-hyaluronate 1% and Hydroxy Propyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) in The Treatment of Corneal Epithelial Defect in Rabbits

To compare the therapeutic effect between topically Na-hyaluronate1% and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose in the treatment of alkaline epithelial corneal defect. Methods: Alkali burn was produced in 30 corneas from 30 New Zealand rabbits, using a corneal trephine 7.5mm. Three groups were randomly divided. Two groups (A, B groups) were treated with topically 4 times a day with Nahyaluronate1%; hydroxy propyl methylcellulose. The saline-treated group served as a control. The healing of the epithelial defect was followed on a slit-lamp biomicroscope regarding its size everyday up to 17days with fluorescein staining. Results: Topically Na-hyaluronate1% significantly accelerated the corneal wound healing process compared with physiologic saline solutions & especially compared with hydroxy propyl methylcellulose. Conclusion: Topically Na-hyaluronate1% could be used as an effective corneal wound healing adjuvant in alkaline corneal epithelial defect to accelerate the wound healing process and hydroxy propyl methylcellulose is not helpful for corneal epithelial defect treatment.