Effect of 5-Fluorouracil on corneoscleral wound healing

5-Fluorouracil has been advocated as an adjunct to filtration in combined extracapsular cataract extraction, intraocular lens implantation, and trabeculectomy; however, it may exert an undesirable inhibitory effect on cataract wound healing. Accordingly, the effect of 5-fluorouracil on corneoscleral wound healing was evaluated in an animal model. During the first 2 weeks following creation of full-thickness corneoscleral wounds, 40 rabbits were randomly assigned to receive either 10 subconjunctival injections of 5 mg 5-fluorouracil or normal saline. After sacrifice, 2, 4, 8, or 16 weeks postoperatively, the tensile strength of a 5-mm wound segment from each rabbit was measured with a tensiometer; histologic analysis was performed on untested portions of the wounds. 5-Fluorouracil was found to produce a trend toward decreased wound strength; however, this effect diminished over time. Histologic analysis was consistent with early inhibition of healing with resumption of healing following discontinuation of the drug. We conclude that 5-fluorouracil delays healing and development of tensile strength in rabbit corneoscleral wounds.