LAUSR

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of honey-based ophthalmic drop in patients with foreign body induced corneal ulcer. BACKGROUND Honey is traditionally used for the skin, mucosal and corneal ulcers. Its use is well studied in human skin and mucosal ulcers and animal model of corneal ulcer with promising effects. METHODS In this randomized clinical trial, 50 patients with foreign body induced corneal ulcer were allocated to receive 70% sterile honey-based ophthalmic formulation or 0.3% ophthalmic ciprofloxacin, as the standard treatment every 6 hours. All patients were examined for the size of corneal epithelial defect, corneal infiltration and depth and followed on a daily basis until complete healing. Duration for complete healing was considered as the outcome measure. Smear, culture, antibiogram and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) test were performed for honey and ciprofloxacin in all patients. RESULTS The average durations of complete healing of corneal epithelial defect in the honey and ciprofloxacin groups were 3.88 ± 3.44 vs. 6.32 ± 3.69days, respectively (p=0.020). No significant difference was observed between the two groups regarding the average duration of healing of corneal infiltration (8.12 ±1.94 days vs. 8.64±2.15 days, p=0.375). MIC of honey for pseudomonas aeruginosa was 60%w/w, for E.Coli 40% w/w, and for staphylococcus aureus 30% w/w. CONCLUSION Honey based ophthalmic drop can acceleratethe corneal epithelial defect healing in patients with foreign body induced corneal ulcer, compared to ophthalmic ciprofloxacin as the standard treatment.