title: Collagen shields exacerbate ulceration of alkali-burned rabbit corneas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the impact of collagen shields on ulceration of rabbit corneas after alkali burn.
  
  
  METHODS
  After a 60-second 2N sodium hydroxide burn to rabbit corneas, 24-hour collagen shields were placed on the corneas daily for 21 days; control corneas did not receive collagen shields. The extent of corneal ulceration was documented daily for 21 days by slit-lamp examination of treated and control eyes. Three separate studies were performed using collagen shields from two commercial sources.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the three studies, corneas in the collagen shield-treated eyes began to ulcerate sooner than those in the control group; the corneas in collagen shield-treated eyes also began to perforate sooner. At 21 days after alkali injury, the mean (+/- SE) corneal ulceration score in the collagen shield-treated rabbits was 4.1 +/- 0.17 (descemetocele formation) compared with 2.7 +/- 0.28 (midstromal ulceration) in controls. This difference was significant at P < .005.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Collagen shield treatment results in marked acceleration of corneal ulceration and perforation after alkali injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40292.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wentworth
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tilki
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: McCartney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001684:Biological Dressings / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002057:Burns, Chemical / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003094:Collagen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003320:Corneal Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D005126:Eye Burns / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011817:Rabbits; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide
chemical_list: D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; D003094:Collagen