| Purpose: To investigate the effect of topical cyclosporin A on ocular surface epithelial disorders induced by desiccation.
Methods: Mice ocular surface epithelial disorders was induced by exposure of murine eyes to continuous controlled low-humidity air velocity, which accelerated the tear evaporation. During desiccation, one eye of each mouse was treated with 0.05% cyclosporin A, and in the other eye a drop of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) was instilled as the control. The resultant changes in corneal barrier function by means of corneal fluorescein staining (score, 0–15), corneal scanning electron microscopy, and histopathologic examination of cornea and conjunctiva were analyzed. The apoptosis in the epithelia was determined by immunohistochemical assay for active caspase-3.
Results: At 14 days after the treatment, the corneal fluorescein staining scores, the number of ruffling and desquamated cells on the apical corneal epithelium, as well as the squamous metaplasia in conjunctival epithelia had improved significantly with 0.05% cyclosporin A treatment compared with the PBS treatment. A significant suppression of apoptosis cells on ocular surface epithelia was observed after 14 days of 0.05% cyclosporin A eyedrops treatment.
Conclusion: These results suggest the potential clinical application of topical cyclosporin A for ocular surface epithelial disorders to maintain epithelial cell viability in patients with dry eye.
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