Abstract
Purpose: :
Recurrent corneal erosions occur due to impaired regeneration or repair of the epithelial basement membrane and therefore delayed adhesion between the epithelium and anterior stroma. Most patients with recurrent erosions respond to topical lubrication therapy. It is our current practice to start treatment with hypertonic saline (NaCl 5%) ointment should initial treatment with topical lubrication fail.
Methods: :
To assess its effect and its potential side-effects on corneal endothelium we asked patients about the improvement of their symptoms and measured endothelial cell density before the initiation of treatment and 1 month after the start of hypertonic saline (5%) ointment twice a day.
Results: :
All patients reported an improvement of their symptoms and specular microscopy showed no difference in the pre and post treatment endothelial cell counts.
Conclusions: :
Hypertonic agents thought to promote the adherence of epithelial cells to the underlining tissues via the production of a transient osmotic gradient and therefore the absorption of fluid from the epithelium seem to offer a useful and safe alternative in the treatment of corneal erosions.
Keywords: cornea: clinical science • cornea: epithelium • cell adhesions/cell junctions