Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of riboflavin/ultraviolet radiation (collagencrosslinking) after ocular alkali burn in rabbits
Methods:
Ten rabbits had the right corneal limbal structure burned withNaOH 4N and were divided in two groups. Control group was treatedwith clinical therapy and Case Group was treated with clinicaltherapy plus riboflavin/ultraviolet radiation (collagen crosslinking)after one hour.Clinical parameters were evaluate at 1, 7, 15,30 days. All animals were sacrificed after 30 days and the corneaswere evaluate by a pathologist.
Results:
In the preliminary study, two corneas in the Case group andone cornea in the Control group were analyzed until now. Therewas no difference in clinical parameters. The histopathologyexam showed more organized collagen fibers and more bridgeslinking collagens fibers in case group than control group.
Conclusions:
Pilot study suggests that anatomical changes seem to occur inthe collagen fibers after riboflavin/ultraviolet light (collagencrosslinking) in corneas with acute alkali ocular burn.
Keywords: cornea: stroma and keratocytes • cornea: clinical science • cornea: clinical science