Effect of topical antiinflammatory drugs on mechanical behavior of rabbit cornea.
BACKGROUND
A variety of antiinflammatory therapies are employed to promote corneal wound healing. The effects of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs on the biomechanical properties of rabbit cornea were investigated over time using tensile tests.


METHODS
Full-thickness incisions were made and used to analyze the effects of dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.1% and diclofenac sodium 0.1% on corneal biomechanical properties during wound healing at 7, 14 and 21 days after surgery.


RESULTS
The full-thickness incision deeply modified all of the mechanical properties. At 3 weeks after incision, regardless of the drug therapy, the tensile modulus was about 70% of the value for the intact cornea.


CONCLUSIONS
Topical treatment with dexamethasone was particularly effective during the first week after surgery; the second week after surgery, a similar result was observed in the corneas treated with diclofenac. Low doses of steroidal and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs would seem to have the potential to improve biomechanical properties only during the early stage of the healing process of the cornea.
Department of Ophthalmology, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome - Italy.
Domenico
D
Lepore
Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials - National Research Council of Italy, Naples - Italy.
Roberto
R
De Santis
Department of Ophthalmology, A. Gemelli University Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome - Italy.
Monica M
MM
Pagliara
Institute of Polymers, Composites and Biomaterials - National Research Council of Italy, Naples - Italy.
Antonio
A
Gloria
Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples - Italy.
Olimpia
O
Oliviero
Department of Ophthalmology, Tor Vergata University, Rome - Italy.
Carlo
C
Nucci
Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples - Italy.
Giovanni
G
Improta
Department of Public Health, Federico II University of Naples, Naples - Italy.
Maria
M
Triassi
Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technology, National Research Council of Italy, Rome - Italy.
Luigi
L
Ambrosio
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003315:Cornea / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits; D014945:Wound Healing
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac