Corneal epithelial wound healing: a tissue culture assay on the effect of antibiotics

The effects of gentamicin, tobramycin and the fluorquinolone, ofloxacin on corneal epithelial wound healing were determined using an in vitro model of wound healing. Wounds were created in rabbit corneal epithelial cultures which were then exposed to various concentrations of the antibiotics. Effects on wound healing were measured by comparing migration rates between 6 and 18 hours and wound areas at various antibiotic concentrations over 36 hours. Gentamicin at concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mg/ml was found to statistically significantly effect wound healing compared to controls. Tobramycin on the other hand was found to have minimal effect on wound healing up to 2.0 mg/ml. Ofloxacin at concentrations greater than or equal to 0.05 mg/ml had statistically significant effects on wound-healing.