The effect of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the corneal epithelium in humans.

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a polypeptide hormone present in mammalian organs. In vivo, it shortens the time course of the corneal reepithelialization by stimulating a marked cell proliferation of the corneal epithelium. A further direct effect in vivo has been confirmed on human corneal epithelium and epidermis in culture. Tests in several nondystrophic diseases of the corneal epithelium confirmed the observations previously made in the rabbit that EGF accelerates the process of epithelial healing. The integrity of the corneal stroma is prejudicial for the maximum effect of the EGF, in the sense that the deeper the stroma is damaged, the less EGF acts. In herpetic lesions EGF is effective within 48 h only when the virus-affected area of the corneal epithelium has been scraped off. EGF is proposed as a new and efficacious agent for increasing the restorative process of the corneal epithelium in many nondystrophic diseases.