Associations in gel formulation to treat post-operative iatrogenic lesions.
A lesion of the corneal epithelium is a frequently encountered condition in ophthalmic clinical practice and is usually associated with uncomfortable symptoms such as soreness, painful twinges, foreign body sensation and photophobia, and in some cases can cause visual loss. In the case of small, uncomplicated lesions, healing often occurs spontaneously within a few days, while larger lesions are treated with eye patching, antibiotic eye drops, cyclopegic and analgesics.
The post-operative phase after the removal of a pterygium deserves a separate discussion.
Lo pterygium is a disease of the ocular surface characterised by the growth of the bulbar conjunctiva on the corneal surface, beyond the boundaries of the limbus. Histologically, it is accompanied by fibrovascular proliferation and inflammation. The treatment of choice is surgical and corneal abrasion is the iatrogenic lesion that arises following surgical excision. This injury in almost all patients results in symptoms, such as pain and irritation, that impair quality of life. Gel formulations can be used to manage it appropriately.
In an interesting study published in August in Clinical Ophthalmology by the team consisting of T. Kocatürk, A. Gençgönül, F. Balica, M. Özba?civan and H. Çakmak, the therapeutic effects of two products were compared: a combination containing hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum and netilmicin 0, 3% (Xanternet from SIFI SpA, Italy) and a viscous eye gel (Fucithalmic from Leo Pharma, Denmark).
The study was carried out on a total of 80 patients, randomly divided into two treatment groups. Excluded from the study were all patients who had ocular infections, those for whom insufficient data were available, those who did not take the study treatments regularly, or those who did not show up for scheduled follow-ups.
The final results showed that the hyaluronic acid, xanthan gum and netilmycin-based ophthalmic gel was more effective in accelerating the healing of corneal lesions and reducing patient discomfort than the fusidic acid-based gel and, therefore, should be evaluated as an option in the treatment of corneal epithelium lesions after pterygium surgery.
For more details read the studio available in full in PubMed
Dr. Carmelo Chines
Direttore responsabile
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