Corneal wound healing and antiviral medication
C. S. Foster and D. Pavan-Langston
Masked, controlled rabbit studies were done to determine the toxic effects
on corneal wound healing of 0.1 percent idoxuridine drops, 3 percent
adenine arabinoside monophosphate drops, and 1 percent trifluorothymidine
drops, the clinically used concentrations. Neither idoxuridine nor
trifluorothymidine significantly retarded closure of epithelial wounds. All
three drugs caused toxic changes in the regenerating epithelium clinically
and by histopathologic examination. Treatment with arabinoside
monophosphate, the monophosphate ester of vidarabine, significantly
retarded closure of epithelial wounds and caused impressive toxic changes
in the regenerating epithelium. Vascularization of the corneal stroma was
present in all eyes treated with this drug. The trifluorothymidine and
idoxuridine had much milder toxic effects on regenerating epithelium and
appeared equal in regard to production of such effects. The strength of
stromal wounds was somewhat reduced by idoxuridine and trifluorothymidine
and significantly increased by arabinoside monophosphate when compared to
controls, These findings were confirmed by hydroxyproline assay of the
stromal scars.
