Purpose:
The rabbit eye corneal epithelial wound closure times were compared following topical applications of Besivance, Vigamox, and BSS. Besivance contains 0.6% (mg/ml) besifloxacin and 0.01% benzalkonium chloride preservative. Vigamox contains 0.5% moxifloxacin and no preservative.
Methods:
Rabbits were divided into three test groups of ten rabbits per group (BSS/Vigamox, BSS/ Besivance, and Vigamox/ Besivance). Following one day QID pretreatment, full thickness epithelial cell layer removal within a 5-mm trephine mark was performed with a Beaver No. 5700 blade. Following wounding, eyes were dosed QID with the appropriate solutions. The epithelial wound opening was stained with 1.5 µl of 0.5% sodium fluorescein and recorded with a digital camera attachment on a Topcon slit lamp. The wound area was analyzed with Sigma Scan software and the representative circle radius calculated. The wound closure rate was plotted as the closure radius per hour and the time until complete closure was determined.
Results:
The mean time until wound closures were 39.6 +/- 4.9 hours for BSS control eyes, 41.1 +/- 4.1 hours for Vigamox treated eyes, and 47.4 +/- 4.3 hours for Besivance treated eyes. T-Tests of the eyes in each treatment were BSS and Vigamox p=0.2862; Besivance and Vigamox p=0.00003; and BSS and Besivance p<0.00001.
Conclusions:
The wound closure time was statistically similar for BSS and Vigamox with both closures statistically faster than Besivance.
Keywords: cornea: epithelium • wound healing • drug toxicity/drug effects