Purpose:
To investigate effects of extremely low frequency pulsed electromagnetic fields (ELF-PEMF) on healing of alkaline-burnt corneas in rabbits
Methods:
56 alkaline-burnt corneas from 56 rabbits were categorized into 4 groups: 14 were exposed to ELF-PEMF with 2mT intensity for 30 minutes twice a day, 14 to ELF-PEMF with 5mT intensity for 30 minutes twice daily, 14 were medically treated (MT), and in 14 no treatment (NT) was done. Follow-up duration was 14 days. Clinical examination together with digital photography of the corneal defect was performed on days 0, 2, 7 and 14. Finally, the excise coreneo-sclera was sent for histopathology and then the clinical and histopathological results were compared between 4 groups.
Results:
None of cases developed limbal ischemia, symblepharon formation, Descemetocele and corneal perforation. Mean area of corneal defect on days 7 and 14 in 2mT-ELF-PEMF and 5mT-ELF-PEMF groups and their changes compared to day 0 were comparable with those of MT although they were significantly less than MT on day 2. The defective area in NT was larger than ELF-PEMF and MT groups on days 2, 7, and 14 (figure 1 and graph 1). Rate of corneal vascularization in ELF-PEMF groups was higher than MT and lower than NT. Stromal inflammation and loss of keratocytes were observed less frequently in ELF-PEMF groups than MT and NT groups.
Conclusions:
ELF-PEMF therapy is a safe, noninvasive and markedly effective method in healing of alkaline-burnt corneas and its therapeutic results are comparable with those of conventional medical therapy.
Keywords: wound healing • cornea: epithelium • cornea: stroma and keratocytes