The effects of artificial tear solutions on wound healing in full thickness corneal incisions

Carbopols (carbomer, polyacrylic acid) are appropriate for ophthalmic use as an artificial tear in the form of viscous aqueous solutions. Carbopol 940 preparations were developed as long-lasting artificial tears for the relief of dry eye syndrome and traumatic injury. We identified the 15 days local treatment effects of two artificial tear solutions by wound strength and histologic examination of the incision wounds of rabbit corneas by comparing these results with the controls. Three layers of control corneas were regular. The untreated but wounded corneas epithelium and stroma were completely irregular. Both treated eyes had thinner epithelization in the incision site compared to control unwounded eye. Wounds treated with A preparation (viscotiers) had vocuoles and numerous inflammatory cells and remarkable oedematous regions but B preparation (Thilo-Tears) treated wounds had inflammatory cells and oedematous regions less than the other group. The wound strengths of gel treated wounds were bigger than those of controls. A considerable result in wound strength and better wound healing was also obtained in B preparation treated group because of the arrangement of the pH and tonicity at the Thilo-tears gel preparation.