Antibiotics and corneal epithelial wound healing.

The healing of a de-epithelialized cornea was measured by serial standardized photography after treatment with different antibiotics. Histological studies were also performed. Low doses of bacitracin (500 units/mL), gentamicin sulfate (3 mg/mL), neomycin (3.5 mg/mL), and chloramphenicol (4 mg/mL) did not retard normal epithelial healing. However, higher doses of bacitracin (10,000 units/mL), gentamicin sulfate (10 mg/mL), and neomycin (8 mg/mL) significantly inhibited reepithelialization.