20% Alcohol Toxicity on Rabbit Corneal Epithelial Cells: Electron microscopic study

Hahn, Tae Won; Lim, Young Woo; Sah, Woo Jin

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate 20% ethanol toxicity on the rabbit corneal epithelium, ethanol-treated rabbit corneas were examined with electron microscopy.
METHODS
Rabbit corneas(24 eyes) were treated with 20% ethanol for 30 seconds, 1 minute, and 2 minutes by using LASEK(Laser Assisted Subepithelial Keratomileusis) instruments, and washed with sterile water. Zero time, 1, 3, 5 days after ethanol treatment, corneas were excised and examined with scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
RESULTS
Widespread damage or disappearance of microvilli and local breaks of intercellular junction were observed. The changes were more severe in corneas with longer ethanol treament. In corneas with over 1 minute ethanol treatment, slough of superficial corneal epithelium was shown and increased with time. It was difficult to recognize microvilli or distinctive intercellular junction in corneas with 2 minute-treament. These pathologic changes persisted 5 days after ethanol-treatment.
CONCLUSIONS
From these results, 30 seconds to 1 minute-ethanol treatment is recommended in corneal surgery to avoid severe, persisting damage of superficial corneal epithelium.