Effects of antiinflammatory drugs on migration of the rabbit corneal epithelium

To evaluate and compare the effects of diclofenac sodium 0.1% and betamethasone phosphate 0.1% on corneal wound healing.

Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, Japan.

Using the method described by Nishida et al., corneal epithelial spreading was measured in vitro in a rabbit corneal block in the presence or absence of 2 antiinflammatory agents at various doses.

At clinical doses (1 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL), the drugs did not suppress migration of the corneal epithelium. At high doses (20 microg/mL, 50 microg/mL, and 100 microg/mL), they did inhibit the migration. There was no between-group difference in corneal epithelial migration at clinical doses. At high doses, corneal epithelial migration was inhibited in the diclofenac sodium group compared with the betamethasone group.

At clinical doses, diclofenac sodium and betamethasone did not inhibit corneal epithelial migration. However, these drugs should be prescribed cautiously in patient with high-risk diseases such as diabetes mellitus and glaucoma.