The impact of corticosteroid therapy on the bacterial corneal ulcer healing process

Abstract

Purpose: to conduct a clinical and morphological study of the role of corticosteroids in the healing of the ulcerative defect on an experimental model of the bacterial corneal ulcer. Material and methods . The developed model of the bacterial corneal ulcer was used. Rabbits with bacterial corneal ulcer were divided into 4 groups of 10 animals (10 eyes) each. Group 1 received local antibacterial treatment. Groups 2 and 3 additionally received injections of 0.2–0.3 ml of Dexamethasone 0.1 % solution once per day (parabulbarly or under the skin of the back, respectively). Group 4 received no treatment but was checked clinically after ulcer modeling. Structural changes in eye tissues were assessed by histopathological examination using an examination on a Leica microscope system with a magnification of 100 to 600. Results. Addition of corticosteroids in the early period of bacteria ulcer treatment contributes to an inhibition of the inflammatory process, reduces the action of collagenolysis processes and the size of the ulcer defect, and suppresses angiogenesis, which leads to an improvement in scar tissue quality. Conclusion. Topical parabulbar injections of corticosteroids adding to the treatment topically in the form of parabulbar injections of corticosteroids contributes to changes in the emerging fibrous tissue which fills the ulcerous defect: a thin scar is formed, which is optically useful.