May 2006
Volume 47, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2006
In vivo Corneal Deturgescence With a New Lubricant Eye Drop
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • B.E. McCarey
    Ophthalmology, Emory Univ Eye Center, Atlanta, GA
  • F.E. Kane
    Alimera Sciences, Alpharetta, GA
  • K.E. Green
    Alimera Sciences, Alpharetta, GA
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  B.E. McCarey, Alimera Sciences, F; F.E. Kane, Alimera Sciences, E; K.E. Green, Alimera Sciences, E.
  • Footnotes
    Support  Alimera Sciences, Research to Prevent Blindness, NIH Grant EY006360
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2006, Vol.47, 2992. doi:
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      B.E. McCarey, F.E. Kane, K.E. Green; In vivo Corneal Deturgescence With a New Lubricant Eye Drop . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2006;47(13):2992.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Introduction: : Post–refractive patients can have immediate transient corneal edema. The denuded epithelial stroma of the post–PRK patient has the potential of significant edema. Clarity (Alimera) a new lubricant eye drop/dehydration solution is compared to Refresh Tears (Allergan) for corneal hydration control.

Methods: : NZW rabbits (n=38 eyes) corneal/sclera rims were mounted in the laboratory perfusion specular microscope and the endothelial surface maintained with BSSplus (Alcon Lab). A series of experiments were performed with and without epithelium while the anterior corneal surface was bathed in Clarity or Refresh (full or 25% concentration to mimic tear dilution). Epithelial denuded corneas were swollen to 550µm before covering the stroma with the test solutions. Another experimental series with damaged epithelial cells was established with a 20 minute exposure to 0.01% BAK followed by a 60 minute bath in BSSplus. Epithelial and corneal thicknesses were recorded.

Results: : Swollen corneas without epithelium thinned 39% in 30 minutes with Clarity and 12% in 30 minutes with Refresh. Clarity at 25% strength demonstrated deturgescence for 50 minutes with 13% thinning, whereas Refresh at 25% strength demonstrated deturgescence for 50 minutes with 2% thinning. Intact corneas exposed to Clarity and Refresh had 9.6% and 8.5% thickness increases respectively and no change in epithelial thickness. When the test solutions were diluted to 25% concentration, no changes in either epithelial or corneal thicknesses were recorded. The BAK damage caused a corneal thickness increase of approximately 16.5% and an epithelial thickness increase of approximately 69%. Bathing the epithelium in 25% Clarity caused a 35% decrease in thickness at 40 minutes and 25% Refresh caused a respective 5% decrease.

Conclusions: : The dehydration efficacy of tear lubricating solutions has been evaluated with an in vitro model. Clarity demonstrated a greater deturgescence than Refresh Tears at full and 25% concentrations in the denuded epithelial model. There was no significant difference in thickness changes in the intact epithelial model. The BAK damaged model showed a significantly greater thinning in the epithelium with Clarity than Refresh.

Keywords: refractive surgery • cornea: epithelium • cornea: stroma and keratocytes 
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