The Effect of Ophthalmic Preservatives on the Healing Rate of the Rabbit Corneal Epithelium after Keratectomy

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Abstract
Most ophthalmic preparations contain preservatives. Some are toxic to healthy corneal epithelium or retard healing of corneas from which part of all of the epithelium has been removed leaving an intact basement membrane. The effect of commonly used concentrations of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), thimerosal and EDTA upon the healing of rabbit corneas after partial lamellar keratectomy was investigated. This model has not been used previously for a study of preservative toxicity. Thimerosal (0.004%), BAC (0.01%)/or EDTA (0.1%) applied 4 times/day had no significant effect on corneal healing or epithelial migration rates. A slight retardation occurred when BAC (0.01%) and EDTA (0.1%) were used together, while healing failed to occur as long as BAC (0.02%) was administered.

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