Published date: Jul 23 2023

Journal Title: Journal of Ophthalmic and Vision Research

Issue title: July–September 2023, Volume 18, Issue 3

Pages: 252–259

DOI: 10.18502/jovr.v18i3.13772

Sepehr Feizisepehrfeizi@yahoo.comOcular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Mozhgan Rezaei KanaviOcular Tissue Engineering Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Mohammad AbolhosseiniOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Seyed-Mohamadmehdi MoshtaghionOphthalmic Research Center, Research Institute for Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Hamed EsfandiariDepartment of Ophthalmology, Olmsted Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Purpose: To evaluate the pro-angiogenic effect of topical erythropoietin on cornea in chemical burn-injured rabbit eyes.

Methods: The corneal alkali-burn injury was induced in 10 eyes of 10 rabbits using filter paper saturated with 1.0 mol sodium hydroxide. The eyes were categorized into the treatment group (n = 5) that received topical erythropoietin (3000 IU/mL) every 8 hr for one month versus the control group (n = 5) that received normal saline every 8 hr for one month. All eyes were treated with topical ciprofloxacin every 8 hr until corneal re-epithelialization was complete. Corneal epithelial defects, stromal opacity, and neovascularization were evaluated after the injury. At the conclusion of the study, the rabbits were euthanized and their corneas were submitted to histopathological examination.

Results: Baseline characteristics including the rabbits’ weight and the severity of corneal injury were comparable in two groups. Time to complete corneal re-epithelialization was 37 days in the treatment group and 45 days in the control group (P = 0.83). There was no significant difference between the groups in the rate of epithelial healing or corneal opacification. Clinical and microscopic corneal neovascularization was observed in one eye (20%) in the treatment group and two eyes (40%) in the control group (P = 0.49).

 Conclusion: Recombinant human erythropoietin administered topically did not induce vessel formation in rabbit corneas after chemical burn.

Keywords: Chemical Burns; Corneal Neovascularization; Rabbit Cornea; Topical Erythropoietin

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