Corneal wound healing and antiviral medication.

Masked, controlled rabbit studies were done to determine the toxic effects on corneal wound healing of 0.1 percent idoxuridine drops, 3 percent adenine arabinoside monophosphate drops, and 1 percent trifluorothymidine drops, the clinically used concentrations. Neither idoxuridine nor trifluorothymidine significantly retarded closure of epithelial wounds. All three drugs caused toxic changes in the regenerating epithelium clinically and by histopathologic examination. Treatment with arabinoside monophosphate, the monophosphate ester of vidarabine, significantly retarded closure of epithelial wounds and caused impressive toxic changes in the regenerating epithelium. Vascularization of the corneal stroma was present in all eyes treated with this drug. The trifluorothymidine and idoxuridine had much milder toxic effects on regenerating epithelium and appeared equal in regard to production of such effects. The strength of stromal wounds was somewhat reduced by idoxuridine and trifluorothymidine and significantly increased by arabinoside monophosphate when compared to controls, These findings were confirmed by hydroxyproline assay of the stromal scars.