Effects of antiinflammatory drugs on migration of the rabbit corneal epithelium

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the effects of diclofenac sodium 0.1% and betamethasone phosphate 0.1% on corneal wound healing. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical College, Wakayama, Japan. METHODS: Using the method described by Nishida et al., corneal epithelial spreading was measured in vitro in a rabbit corneal block in the presence or absence of 2 antiinflammatory agents at various doses. RESULTS: At clinical doses (1 microg/mL and 10 microg/mL), the drugs did not suppress migration of the corneal epithelium. At high doses (20 microg/mL, 50 microg/mL, and 100 microg/mL), they did inhibit the migration. There was no between-group difference in corneal epithelial migration at clinical doses. At high doses, corneal epithelial migration was inhibited in the diclofenac sodium group compared with the betamethasone group. CONCLUSIONS: At clinical doses, diclofenac sodium and betamethasone did not inhibit corneal epithelial migration. However, these drugs should be prescribed cautiously in patient with high-risk diseases such as diabetes mellitus and glaucoma.