Role of cysteine in corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy of cysteine oral supplements in corneal wound healing after photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).


METHODS
A total of 200 eyes (100 patients) underwent PRK. We divided patients into 2 groups; each group was composed of 50 patients (100 eyes). Group 1 patients were assigned to use oral L-cysteine, with a daily dose of 200 mg (100-mg pills to be taken twice a day) for a duration of 14 days, starting from the week preceding the operation; the patients in group 2 were used as a control, and received the oral supplementation of 40-mg placebo pills to be taken twice a day for a duration of 14 days, starting from the week preceding the operation.


RESULTS
All the eyes of patients treated with cysteine oral supplements showed shorter times to re-epithelization than the eyes of the control group. The mean time of corneal wound healing observed in group 1 was 102 +/- 15 h, compared to an average of 159 +/- 9 h in group 2.


CONCLUSIONS
Our research showed that oral cysteine supplementation, in a daily dose of 200 mg, reduces mean corneal wound healing time in patients after PRK.
Meduri
Alessandro
A
Department of Surgical Specialities, Ophthalmology Clinic, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Grenga
Pier Luigi
PL
Scorolli
Lucia
L
Ceruti
Piero
P
Ferreri
Giuseppe
G
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D003545:Cysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006956:Hyperopia / Q000601:surgery; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008297:Male; D009216:Myopia / Q000601:surgery; D018903:Photorefractive Keratectomy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D013997:Time Factors; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
D003545:Cysteine