Deposits of mucosubstances on the cornea by topical chloramphenicol: an electron microscopic study.

Chloramphenicol was instilled into rabbit eyes and five days later the corneal surface was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The corneal surface was roughened and showed a proliferative appearance. Examination of thin sections of the cornea by transmission electron microscope showed that the corneal surface stained strongly with alcian blue. It was thus supposed to be a deposit of mucosubstances. Mucosubstances increase pathogenicity of bacteria and, therefore, this deposit may accelerate Pseudomonas keratitis after chloramphenicol application.