Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate acute corneal epithelial disorders induced by the antiglaucomatous prostaglandin analogues Xalatan®, containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride (BAC); Travatan®, containing 0.015% BAC; Travatanz®, without BAC; and, Travatan® additives. A second aim was to determine whether additives included in ophthalmic drugs can lessen the extent of acute corneal epithelial disorders induced by Xalatan®.
Methods: :
The corneal transepithelial electric resistance (TER) of live rabbits was measured before and after 60 seconds of exposure to Xalatan®, Travatan®, Travatanz®, and Travatan® additives. Cultured normal rabbit corneal epithelial (NRCE) cells were also exposed to the same drugs for 60 seconds and cell viability was evaluated using a WST-1 assay. Finally, the Travatan® additive, 1% polyoxyethylene hydrogenated castor oil (HCO), was mixed with 0.02% BAC and Xalatan®, and changes in TER, cell viability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were examined.
Results: :
Xalatan® significantly lowered TER (P < 0.0001) and NRCE viability (P < 0.0001), whereas Travatan® and Travatanz® did not significantly differ compared with the control. However, the mixture of 1% HCO, 0.02% BAC and Xalatan® did not significantly alter TER and cell viability compared with the control, and SEM did not detect any damage to the corneal epithelial superficial cells.
Conclusions: :
The inclusion of 1% HCO can lessen the extent of acute corneal epithelial disorder caused by 0.02% BAC and Xalatan®.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • cornea: basic science • cornea: clinical science