Effect of ophthalmic drug films with methyluracil and 6-methyl-3-(thietan-3-yl)uracil on the thickness of the corneal epithelium

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Development and testing of drugs with regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. It is advisable using them in keratopathy development and impairments of trophic processes, at the action of preservatives against the background of long-term local IOP-lowering therapy for glaucoma, as well as in the presence of a surgical wound in the area of the procedure, the last causing discomfort in many patients, foreign body sensation, and ocular irritation during the postoperative period in glaucoma treatment. AIM: To evaluate the effect of ophthalmic drug films (ODF) with 6-methyl-3- (thietan-3-yl)uracil and methyluracil on the thickness of the corneal epithelium after experimental chemical burn. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A histomorphological analysis of the cornea of 17 rabbits (34 eyes) of the Chinchilla breed after experimental chemical burn was carried out, the wound healing and keratoprotective properties of ophthalmic drug films were evaluated. Ophthalmic drug films with 6-methyl-3-(thietan-3-yl)uracil were placed in right eyes of 15 rabbits, and those with methyluracil were placed in left eyes of same rabbits. Two rabbits (4 eyes) served as control: their right eyes were left without wound healing therapy, while left eyes received dexpanthenol 5% gel (Corneregel) 4 times a day. The animals were followed-up for 21 days, morphological changes in the cornea were assessed on the 2nd, 7th, 14th and 21st days of the study. RESULTS: Different results were obtained depending on the ODF used. The use of ODF with methyluracil on days 27 led to an increase in the thickness and the number of epithelial layers compared to ophthalmic drug films with 6-methyl-3-(thietan-3-yl)uracil, where epithelial reactivity was observed by 14 days. On the 21st day of follow-up, the microscopic picture of the cornea in the right and the left eyes was characterized by total restoration and healing of the corneal epithelium. CONCLUSIONS: Ophthalmic drug films therapy with methyluracil and 6-methyl-3-(thietan-3-yl)uracil leads to histologically correct and rapid epithelialization of the cornea after a chemical burn.