title: Effects of various lubricants on corneal surface regularity in rabbits.
abstract: The aim of this study was to establish a method for analysis of tear film stability and thereby to investigate the effects of lubricants on corneal surface regularity and corneal epithelial damage in anesthetized rabbits with the eye held open. Saline-instilled and noninstilled eyes manifested a time-dependent increase in the corneal surface regularity index (SRI). In contrast, 0.1% hyaluronic acid (HA) prevented the increase in the SRI for up to 20 min after instillation. Methylene blue uptake into the damaged cornea was significantly greater in eyes that received saline than in those treated with HA. Whereas eyes instilled with 0.5% methylcellulose (MC) or 0.35% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) manifested an increase in the SRI similar to that apparent in those that received saline, 1.0% chondroitin sulfate (CS) prevented the increase in the SRI for up to 10 min after instillation. In conclusion, we have established a method for analysis of tear film stability in rabbits. Our results suggest that tear film stability is closely related to corneal surface damage and that topical instillation of 0.1% HA or 1.0% chondroitin sulfate warrants further investigation as a potential treatment for patients with dry eye.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Center, Santen Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nara, Japan. shinichiro.hirai@santen.co.jp
authors.forename: Shin-ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawahara
authors.forename: Kayoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sakamoto
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Masatsugu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates / Q000494:pharmacology; D019781:Corneal Topography; D015352:Dry Eye Syndromes / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008747:Methylcellulose / Q000494:pharmacology; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid; D008747:Methylcellulose; D002809:Chondroitin Sulfates; D002266:Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium