Antioxidant Therapy in the Treatment of Experimental Acute Corneal Inflammation

Abstract

To ascertain the effectiveness of topical antioxidant therapy on acute corneal inflammation, we have studied the effectiveness of topical treatment with a saline solution and with antioxidants such as 0.2% superoxide dismutase and 0.5% dimethylthiourea (DMTU) in a controlled experimental study. The evolution of the inflammatory process was evaluated by a multimodel approach, including computer-assisted planimetry of the corneal ulcer and infiltrate, ultrasonic pachymetry, luminol-amplified chemiluminescence and the study of corneal transparency by direct spectral spectrophotometry transmittance. The experimental model was a corneal ulcer created by a 60-second application of 1 N sodium hydroxide. Topical treatment with DMTU was shown to significantly improve all parameters tested, while superoxide dismutase reduced only the corneal ulcers. Antioxidant topical therapy with DMTU was shown to be efficient in reducing the inflammatory reaction that occurs during acute corneal inflammation. This suggests that antioxidant therapy could be considered as a complementary treatment in the pharmacological modulation of acute corneal inflammation.

Plasma catalase activity and malondialdehyde level in patients with cataract

“…10 uveitis, 11 retinopathy of prematurity, 12 corneal inflammation, 13 and keratitis. 14 During oxidative stress, a series of highly reactive intermediates are produced, including the superoxide radical (O 2 À ), hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and hydroxy radical (OH Á ).…”

Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Xanthine Oxidase in Diabetic Rat Lenses

“…They were all within normal limits. Diabetes was induced in 12 rats by a single sterile intraperitoneal injection of 65 mg/kg alloxan (alloxan monohydrate, [2,4,5,6(1H,3H)-pyrimidinetetrone]. Intracardiac blood was obtained weekly, and glucose concentration was measured by an autoanalyzer (Olympus AU 600, Japan).…”

“…They are thought to be involved in pathological processes in the eye, including cataract [1], primary open-angle glaucoma [2], uveitis [3], retinopathy of prematurity [4], corneal inflammation [5] and keratitis [6].…”

Tearful relations: oxidative stress, inflammation and eye diseases

“…Oxidative stress has become increasingly accepted as playing a role in the aging process. Oxidative damage has also been reported to play a role in several ocular diseases including age-related macular degeneration (1) , cataract (2) , uveitis (3) , retinopathy of prematurity (4) , corneal inflammation (5) and keratitis (6) . The toxic effect of these reactive oxygen species and free radicals can be eliminated by enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) which eliminates O 2 -to produce H 2 O 2 (7) .…”