Topical ultraviolet light-absorbing chromophore protects against experimental photokeratitis
J. B. Oldenburg, D. C. Gritz and P. J. McDonnell
Doheny Eye Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Ultraviolet radiation may play a causative role in a number of human ocular
and dermatologic conditions; reduction of environmental UV light exposure
may decrease their incidence. We investigated the effects of two different
UV light-absorbing chromophores, octyl methoxycinnamate (Parsol-MCX) and
butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane (Parsol-1798) on corneal UV light
transmittance, and evaluated topically applied Parsol-MCX for its
protective effect against experimental UV light-induced keratitis in New
Zealand white rabbits. Both Parsol-1789 (UV-A light absorber) and
Parsol-MCX (UV-B light absorber) are well tolerated by New Zealand white
rabbit eyes. Pretreatment with a single drop of Parsol-MCX reproducibly
protected against UV light-induced keratitis, apparently by absorbing
greater than 75% of UV-B (peak wavelength, 308 nm) irradiation.