Effects of vitamin A and cortisone on healing of corneal penetrating wounds.

The effect of the administration of vitamin A drops on neutralizing the inhibitory role of cortisone in penetrating corneal wound healing was studied on 24 albino rabbits (48 eyes). The rate of healing of the wound was determined by the fluorescein strain technique and the tensile strength of the affected cornea was determined on the 11th day after the wound was made. It was observed that in the group of eyes in which only cortisone in any form was administered, not only was the rate of healing delayed (with statistical significance) but there was also a statistically significant lowering of the tensile strength of the wound. However, in the eyes in which vitamin A was also administered simultaneously with cortisone, the rate of healing of the wound was enhanced and there was also a statistically significant increase in the tensile strength of wound. Therefore in this study it was confirmed that by simultaneous use of vitamin A drops, the inhibitory role of cortisone is neutralized even in penetrating corneal wounds.