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Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Evaluating Therapeutic and Chemical Toxicity Using Organ-Cultured Porcine Corneas and Epithelial Wound Healing
Published on: January 10, 2025
Corneal endothelial cytotoxicity of the Calotropis procera (ushaar) plant
Hani S Al-Mezaine1, Mohammed A Al-Amry, Abdullah Al-Assiri
1Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. almez2001@hotmail.com
Purpose:
To report 6 eyes of 5 patients with transient corneal edema after exposure to the milky latex of Calotropis procera (ushaar).
Methods:
Interventional case series.
Results:
Intracorneal penetration of ushaar latex can lead to permanent endothelial cell loss with morphologic alteration. Corneal edema resolved completely in approximately 2 weeks in all cases, despite reduced endothelial cell count and abnormal morphology.
Conclusions:
Corneal endothelial toxicity of ushaar latex is caused by its ability to penetrate the corneal stroma and induce permanent loss of endothelial cells. Corneal edema resolves if sufficient endothelial cell viability is still present after resolution of ushaar keratitis.

