Topical cyclosporine A and corneal wound healing.

The effect of 2% topical cyclosporine A (CsA) ointment on corneal epithelial and stromal wound healing was evaluated in a masked, placebo-controlled study in rabbits. The difference in epithelial would healing rate in the treatment and placebo group was not statistically significant. There was also no difference in the values of bursting strength of 2-mm central penetrating wounds and in the measurement of hydroxyproline content in the central corneal buttons from the wounded area in both the groups. Clinical evaluation of the quality of regenerating epithelium, stromal edema, haze, and iritis did not reveal a difference between the two groups. There was a significantly higher incidence of conjunctival injection in the CsA-treated group. We conclude that topical cyclosporine A 2% does not significantly inhibit epithelial or stromal corneal wound healing.