Establishment of dry eye model by alkali burns in conjunctiva

Objective To establish by treatment a new animal model of dry eye.Methods Dry eye model was established with 1.0 mmol/L NaOH solutions in both eyes of ten New Zealand white rabbits. Another ten rabbits were used as control. Examinations of dry eye perormed periodically. Conjunctival impression cytology and immunohistochemistry were performed.Results The level of congestion and secretion in conjunctiva, fluorescence stain and rose Bengal stain rose most significantly the 1st day and gradually decreased; Tear break-up time declined most distinctly on 7th day and was subsequently slowly prolonged, with statistical difference compared with the control(P0.05), Schirmer I test was not statistically different compared with the control(P0.05); the density of goblet cells and quantity of MUC5AC were statistically different during 4 weeks compared with those of the control(P0.05).Conclusion Alkali burn in conjunctiva is a simple and stable dry eye model.