The inhibitory effect of different concentrations of KH902 eye drops on corneal neovascularization induced by alkali burn

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of different concentrations of KH902 eye drops on rabbit corneal neovascularization (CNV) induced by alkali burn. METHODS: Forty-eight adult rabbits were randomized into four groups after alkali burning: Group A (2.5 mg/ml), Group B (5 mg/ml), and Group C (10 mg/ml) by different concentrations of KH902 eye drops and Group D by saline solution as control with three times a day for 2 weeks. At days 7, 14, and 28, the anterior segment photographs, confocal microscopy, and histopathology were performed to evaluate corneal opacity, neovascularization, inflammatory cell density, vessel size, and edema. Immunohistochemistry was applied to analyze the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) level. RESULTS: (1) The CNV in the medicine-treated groups showed a reduction without obvious corneal side effects histologically. (2) Compared to the control group, the three medicine-treated groups showed a reduction in the VEGF levels and CNV areas on days 7, 14, and 28 and in the inflammatory cell density on days 14 and 28 (P < 0.01). The difference of inflammatory cell density between the three medicine-treated groups existed on day 14 (P < 0.01). There were differences in the VEGF levels between Groups A, B, and C on days 7, 14, and 28 (P < 0.01), not for Groups B and C on day 28 (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: KH902 eye drops in lower concentration showed an obvious reduction of the CNV growing for rabbit corneal alkali burn without side effects.