Collagen shields: efficacy, safety and comfort in the treatment of human traumatic corneal abrasion and effect on vision in healthy eyes.

To study the efficacy, safety and comfort of porcine collagen shields in the treatment of traumatic corneal abrasion, patients with corneal abrasions that had occurred within 24 hours before examination were treated with either a collagen shield (18 patients) or tight patching (12 patients). There was no significant difference in the rate of healing or the proportion of corneas healed between the two groups. The collagen shield was significantly more comfortable than the patch (p < 0.05). After 1 hour of wear the collagen shield allowed useful vision (mean 20/100) in nine healthy volunteer subjects. Collagen shields may be of benefit in carefully selected cases of traumatic corneal abrasion.