Introduction: Corneal alkali burns are true ophthalmic emergency cases that need immediate medical intervention to reduce the severe complications and restore patients' vision. Liposomal ozonated oil is a new eye drop formulation with regenerative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
Aim of the Study: Evaluation of the potential therapeutic effect of liposomal ozonated oil on experimentally induced corneal alkali burns in rats by histological and immunohistochemical techniques.
Materials and Methods: Forty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. Group I (control group), group II (liposomal ozonated oil-treated group), group III (alkali burn group), group IV (alkali burn+ liposomal ozonated oil-treated group). At the end of this experiment, corneal specimens were obtained and provided for the light and electron microscopic examination. Morphometric and statistical studies were performed.
Results: Alkali burn group (group III) showed epithelial separation and denudation, vacuolated epithelial cells with the presence of karyolytic nuclei in some cells. There were disorganized collagen fibers with wide spaces in between, degenerated keratocytes, neovascularization and inflammatory cell infiltration. Descemet's membrane detachment was observed in some sites. Morphometric and statistical results demonstrated decreased total corneal and epithelial thickness, decreased area% of collagen fibers, decreased E-cadherin immune-expression and increased Ki-67 immune-expression compared to control group. Group IV revealed much improvement and restoration of corneal structure with nearly normal histological and immunohistochemical pictures.
Conclusion: liposomal ozonated oil highly improved the structure of the cornea burned by an alkali substance. So, it could be considered a unique and a suitable therapy for patients suffering from a corneal alkali burn.