Effect of ethanol-treated mid-peripheral epithelium on corneal wound healing in rabbits

BACKGROUND: To determine the effect of an ethanol-treated mid-peripheral epithelium on wound healing of the corneal epithelium. METHODS: Epithelial removal was performed on 18 rabbit eyes, which were divided into three groups of six eyes each as follows: group 1, an 8.0-mm diameter treated with balanced salt solution (BSS) and an 8.0-mm removal; group 2, an 8.0-mm diameter treated with 20% ethanol for 30 seconds and an 8.0-mm removal; and group 3, a 9.0-mm diameter treated with ethanol and an 8.0-mm removal (barrier zone setting group). The corneal defect area was analyzed post-operatively. The concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor (EGF) in tears were determined pre-operatively and post-operatively. Healed corneal tissues were examined with light and electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical analysis was also performed to estimate the expression of EGF receptors in healed corneal tissue. RESULTS: The epithelial healing rate in group 3 was faster than that in the two other groups (p < 0.05). The expression of VEGF and EGF in group 3 was higher than that in the other two groups (p < 0.05). Light microscopy revealed clear healing of the corneal epithelium in all groups except for some cases in group 1. Electron microscopy revealed a relatively intact microstructure of the healed corneal tissues, especially in group 2 and 3 when compared with group 1. Meanwhile, in the immunohistochemistry, group 3 showed significantly higher expression of EGFR when compared with the other groups. Furthermore, EGFR expression had a tendency to be stronger in the mid-peripheral corneal area than in the central corneal area. CONCLUSIONS: The preserved mid-peripheral epithelial layer treated with ethanol (barrier zone) promoted corneal epithelial healing. It appeared to be correlated with elevated tear VEGF and EGF levels in the post-operative period.