title: Human Breast Milk Drops Promote Corneal Epithelial Wound Healing.
abstract: To investigate the effects of human breast milk on corneal epithelial wound healing.
  
  
  
  The effects of human breast milk on epithelial healing is compared with autologous serum and artificial tears on 24 female Bal-b/C mice. A central corneal epithelial defect was created using a 2 mm trephine. Four groups were formed. By a random pick-up, topical human breast milk 4 × 1 was given to Group 1, topical mouse autologous serum 4 × 1 was applied to Group 2, and preservative-free artificial tears 4 × 1 was applied to Group 3.Group 4 was evaluated as control. Biomicroscopical examination was performed on days 1, 2, and 3. Mice were sacrificed on the third day. Histopathological and electron microscopic examinations were performed as well.
  
  
  
  The fastest and best healing group was Group 1, followed by Group 2. Re-epithelization was not complete even at the end of the second day in groups 3 and 4.
  
  
  
  The rich content of human breast milk may be an alternative to epithelial healers and artificial tears.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Başkent University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Leyla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Asena
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Başkent University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Esra Hülya
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Suveren
authors.affiliation: b Department of Histology and Embryology , Başkent University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülten
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karabay
authors.affiliation: a Department of Ophthalmology , Başkent University , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dursun Altinors
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065306:Corneal Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D015590:Fluorophotometry; D006801:Humans; D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008895:Milk, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D062326:Re-Epithelialization / Q000502:physiology*; D044967:Serum / Q000502:physiology; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D065346:Lubricant Eye Drops; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions
keywords: Artificial tears; autologous serum eye drops; corneal epithelium; corneal wound healing; human breast milk