Dynamics of corneal epithelial healing after an alkali burn. A statistical analysis.

A precise definition of epithelial healing kinetics following chemical injury is necessary to aid the investigation of control mechanisms, potential therapeutic intervention and ophthalmic drug toxicity. Wound healing was studied photographically at frequent intervals in rabbits following 1N or 4N alkali burns. Planar wound areas were determined by computerized planimetry and transformed mathematically to curved surface data. The decrease in equivalent wound radius with time was computer-modelled using two linear and three nonlinear regressions. A periodic function was also investigated. Serial photographs showed that intermittent attrition of small areas of the migrating wound edge was a common confounding variable. Although excellent coefficients of determination were found for all models, the addition of nonlinear factors gave a small advantage. A mean lag phase of 3.96 and 6.52 hr occurred after 1N and 4N alkali burns, respectively; wound edge attrition was notably prevalent in early healing. Epithelial healing in the rabbit had a fundamental linear component, with mean epithelial migration rates of 76 and 80 microns/hr after 1N and 4N alkali burns, respectively, and which continued to closure. A quadratic nonlinear component was also suggested. No significant circadian component was detected.