Use of commercially available sodium hyaluronate 0.18% eye drops for corneal epithelial healing in diabetic patients

To evaluate the effect of topical sodium hyaluronate (SH) 0.18% treatment on corneal epithelial healing after epithelial debridement in pars plana vitrectomy in diabetic patients.

This is prospective and randomized clinical trial. Our study population included 30 eyes undergoing pars plana vitrectomy that required near total corneal debridement intra-operatively for surgical view. We compared the residual wound and wound healing rate in between 3 groups: 10 diabetic eyes (DMV) on topical SH 0.18%; 10 diabetic eyes (DMC) and 10 non-diabetic eyes (NDM) not treated with topical SH 0.18%. The corneal epithelial wound was measured at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 120 h after the vitrectomy surgery.

DMC group had corneal wounds that reepithelialization significantly more slowly than in NDM and DMV groups at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h (Mann-Whitney test p < 0.05). The epithelial healing rate was significantly faster at 12 h in NDM and DMV group (Mann-Whitney test p < 0.05). No differences in the residual epithelial wound and wound healing were detected in between NDM and DMV groups. The mean for epithelial closure in DMC group was delayed 87.6 ± 28.31 h, compared with DMV group (64.8 ± 21.31) and NDM group (56.4 ± 9.88). All groups were followed up 1 month beyond completed wound closure. No recurrent corneal epithelial wound, corneal melting or corneal neovascularization was noted.

Diabetic patients on SH 0.18% four times daily for epithelial defect had similar corneal wounds healing rate as non-diabetics. This treatment significantly improved corneal wound healing and accelerated complete corneal wound resurfacing in diabetic patients.