Corneal Wound Healing I. Inhibition of Stromal Healing by Three Dexamethasone Derivatives

Abstract

Dexamethasone alcohol, dexamethasone-21-acetate, and dexametlwsone-21-phosphate inhibit corneal wound healing in rabbits. Wound healing was studied at 3 day intervals by the anterior chamber pressure necessary for wound rupture. No inhibition of healing was noted after only three days of treatment for any steroid; when present, it was observed on day 6 and continued for at least 15 days. Dexamethasone alcohol inhibited wound healing in treated eyes at concentrations as low as 0.001 per cent, dexamethasone-21-phosphate was inhibitory at 0.01 per cent, and dexamethasone-21-acetate was inhibitory at 0.1 per cent following six days of treatment with two drops of the respective concentration five times per day. Dexamethasone alcohol was absorbed systemically to the extent that wound healing was inhibited in the vehicle-treated contralateral eye with treatments of 0.1 and 0.01 per cent concentrations. Similarly, dexamethasone-21-phosphate at the 0.1 per cent treatment level lessened wound strength in the contralateral eye. No contralateral effect for dexamethasone-21-acetate was observed at the highest treatment level of 0.1 per cent. Indomethacin and phenylbutazone did not affect corneal wound healing in the treated or contralateral eyes as measured by this technique.