Combining Sodium Hyaluronate and Polyvinylpyrrolidone Therapies for the Rabbit Cornea: A New Approach to Relief of the Human Dry Eye Syndrome

Abstract

Purpose of the study: The novel combination of 0.1% sodium hyaluronate (HA) and 5.0% polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) into one eyedrop was investigated to test the hypothesis of its increased relief of dry eye syndrome (DES).

Materials and methods: We evaluated HA and PVP, either alone, or in combination, by utilizing 16 rabbits, where their right eyes received one or two different eyedrops, and their left eyes, as controls, received none. The DES replica in rabbits was induced by 0.1% benzalkonium chloride (BAC) eyedrops. BAC was instilled into the right eyes of all rabbits, which were divided into four groups of four. In Group 1 M, the rabbits received only BAC. A second eyedrop given to the right eyes of Group 2 M was HA, of Group 3 M was PVP, and of Group 4 M was the combination of both HA and PVP. All eyes were followed clinically for 14 d, and thereafter, examined histopathologically.

Results: Clinically, the HA+PVP combination yielded the least perilimbal conjunctival erythema (p < 0.05), and the least corneal epithelial fluorescein staining (p < 0.001) compared to each treatment alone. Histopathologically, all four rabbits' right eyes in the combination group 4 M displayed the greatest preservation of the corneal epithelium (p < 0.001) and of the perilimbal conjunctival goblet cell density (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This unique combination of both HA and PVP into one eyedrop, was more potent than either treatment alone in protecting the ocular surface. A preparation, containing both HA and PVP may become useful for DES patients.

Keywords:

• Conjunctiva
• cornea
• dry eyes
• goblet cells
• tears

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Ami Weiss (Medicure Laboratories, Bat Yam, Israel) and Allan Siegel (New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA) for their valuable suggestions, which enhanced the presentation of the manuscript and its accompanying figures.

Declaration of interest

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors. The authors of this manuscript have no competing interests in this study. All five authors made substantial contributions to the conception and design, acquisition of data, and/or analysis and interpretation of its data. All five authors helped to draft the article and/or revise it critically for important intellectual content. All of the five authors gave final approval of the version to be published. Eyal Zolotariov is listed as an inventor in a pending patent that claims the composition described in this article. For further details, contact Eyal_Z @meditec.co.il.