Reversal of wound strength retardation by addition of insulin to corticosteroid therapy.

Corticosteroids are known to retard the healing of corneal stromal wounds as well as to have positive anti-inflammatory effects. This study was designed to see if the addition of insulin to dexamethasone, administered subconjunctivally bid, would maintain dexamethasone's anti-inflammatory effect without inhibiting the healing (as measured by the wound bursting pressure) of a laboratory-inflicted 3-mm through-and-through central incision in the rabbit cornea. The results of a study involving 43 animals (86 eyes) showed the wounds to be significantly stronger in the insulin/dexamethasone-treated eyes than in the dexamethasone-treated eyes. The same anti-inflammatory effect was achieved with either protocol. Its mechanism of action is undetermined.