Prophylactic ophthalmic bethametazone for sulfur mustard-induced ocular injury

BACKGROUND: The present study sought to evaluate the prophylactic effect of bethametazone on sulfur mustard (SM)-induced ocular morphometric damage in the rabbit eye. METHODS: Twenty five healthy New Zealand white rabbits were divided into 4 groups of normal (not exposed to SM or solution), solution (exposed to solution), SM (exposed to SM), and prophylactic bethametazone (received eye solution of bethametazone then exposed to SM solution; then treated for 2 weeks). On the day 14 after exposure, five-micron sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin for light microscopy evaluation. The ocular morphometric characteristics in the study groups were compared to determine the prophylactic effects of the bethametazone. RESULTS: Bethamethazone could protect eyes from SM effect by means of decrease in changes in number of Keratocyte in 10000 μm(2), thickness of cornea (μm), thickness of corneal epithelium (μm), number of meibomian gland's cells in 2500 μm(2), thickness of palpebral conjuctival epithelium (μm), thickness of epithelial of palpebral skin (μm), number of epithelial layers of palpebral skin, and number of goblet cells in conjunctival sac in 1000 μm. CONCLUSIONS: Bethametazone may have a prophylactic effect on the early lesions of the eye of the rabbit due to SM exposure.