Abstract
Purpose :
The ocular surface is currently an important problem in modern society, an alkali burn injury is an ocular emergency of the conjunctiva and cornea. Aloe Vera possesses wound-healing properties and shows inmunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities in corneal cells in vitro. Thus, we explored the regenerative capability of a new technology membrane containing organic aloe vera leaf gel as a treatment of ocular surface alkali burn in a rat model.
Methods :
The non-absorbable membrane of aloe and collagen was prepared using the concentration of 60mg/ml of hydrolyzed Aloe vera and 400mg/ml of hydrolyzed collagen, the pH of the initial solution was 7.3 and the formation of the membrane was carried out at room temperature, under sterility conditions for a period of 20 minutes. The procedure was accomplished under all the ARVO ethical standards. A filter paper with NaOH (1M) was placed in the rat’s eye for 30 seconds, this led to degradation of the conjunctival and corneal epithelium. The prepared membrane was placed on the ocular surface after performing an eye wash with balanced saline solution for 5 minutes. Photographs were taken prior to the procedure and immediately after the eyewash with and without fluorescein staining. Photographic follow-up was done on the first, second and third day. The main result was the degree and time of epithelization. The treated area was divided into four quadrants and according to the photographs taken, a consensus was reached on the percentage reached each moment. Both eyes received Moxifloxacin 1 drop every 12 hours during follow up period.
Results :
Two eyes were burned with 1M NaOH. The corneal de-epithelialization was entirely performed in both eyes. On the first day, an epithelization of 40% (1 quadrant) was evident, on the second day of 75% (3 quadrants) and the third day of 100% (4 quadrants), simultaneously in both eyes.
Our results confirmed that a combination of hydrolyzed Aloe Vera and hydrolyzed collagen worked in synergy and showed a promising healing and anti-inflammatory effect in a very short time against alkali burn.
Conclusions :
We will update the results with the complete sample (10 burned eyes vs10 control eyes). We will try to demonstrate the new technology of organic lyophilized aloe vera leaf gel membrane shows a clinical improvement in the ocular surface after alkali burn in a rat model.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.