METHOD: This is prospective and randomized clinical trial. Our study population included 30 eyes undergoing pars plana vitrectomy that required near total corneal debridement intra-operatively for surgical view. We compared the residual wound and wound healing rate in between 3 groups: 10 diabetic eyes (DMV) on topical SH 0.18%; 10 diabetic eyes (DMC) and 10 non-diabetic eyes (NDM) not treated with topical SH 0.18%. The corneal epithelial wound was measured at 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, 72 and 120 h after the vitrectomy surgery.
RESULTS: DMC group had corneal wounds that reepithelialization significantly more slowly than in NDM and DMV groups at 12, 24, 36 and 48 h (Mann-Whitney test p corneal epithelial wound, corneal melting or corneal neovascularization was noted.
CONCLUSION: Diabetic patients on SH 0.18% four times daily for epithelial defect had similar corneal wounds healing rate as non-diabetics. This treatment significantly improved corneal wound healing and accelerated complete corneal wound resurfacing in diabetic patients.