topical sesame oil for severe corneal alkali burn in rabbits

purpose : to evaluate the effects of topical sesame oil in the treatment of severe corneal alkali injury in rabbits methods : in a double-blind experiment, 30 healthy white rabbits were randomized into a sesame oil treatment group (n=15) and a control group (n=15). under general anesthesia, severe corneal alkali injuries were induced by application of 1 n sodium hydroxide for 40 seconds to the right eye of each rabbit. the sesame oil group was treated with sesame oil drops 4 times daily for 1 month. both groups received chloramphenicol eye drops, 4 times daily. daily examination with fluorescein staining and photography were performed, and details of corneal erosion and ulceration were recorded. the main outcome measure was descemetocele and perforation of the cornea. the animals were euthanized at the end of the study or earlier if corneal perforation had occurred, and the corneas were excised and fixed in 10% neutral-buffered formalin for histologic examination. results : mean time to perforation in sesame oil group was longer than control group (29.6 versus 25.5 days, respectively p=0.01). four eyes in sesame oil group and 8 eyes in control group developed descemetocele and perforation (p=0.13). extent of corneal vascularization was 66.6% in sesame oil group and 49.3% in control group (p= 0.065). conclusion : topical sesame oil seems to have beneficial effects on alkali-injured corneas. it delays corneal perforation in rabbits compared to control group.   iranian journal of ophthalmology 201224(4):52-56 © 2012 by the iranian society of ophthalmology