Effect of N- Acetylcysteine Eye Drops on Corneal Ulcer Healing in Rabbits

Corneal ulcers represent a critical ophthalmic state that usually occurs after a corneal trauma and is characterized by loss of corneal epithelium with stromal affection, linked to inflammation, oedema and pain. The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) eye drop in management of corneal ulcer in rabbits. N-Acetylcysteine eye drops 3%, were freshly prepared. Twenty Rabbits (40 eyes) were divided into four groups; group I included 20 right healthy eyes of the twenty rabbits, subdivided into two subgroups; each consisted of ten eyes, control Ia received one drop of normal saline and control Ib received one drop of 3% acetylcysteine. Group II included ten left eyes with induced corneal injury and received one drop of normal saline. Group III included ten left eyes with induced corneal injury and received one drop of 3% acetylcysteine. H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining were performed, accompanied by morphometric and statistical analyses. Rabbits treated with N-acetylcysteine exhibited a shorter duration of photophobia compared with positive control. Histological examination of group III demonstrated regeneration of the corneal epithelium and regular arrangement of stromal collagen bundles with less fiber separation than group II. Group III revealed a significant increase in collagen area percentage compared with group II. NAC has emerged as a promising theraputic agent for enhancing corneal wound healing (CWH) promoting a near-normal restoration of corneal epithelium and stroma.