Effects of dimethyl sulfoxide on a model of corneal alkali injury.

The potential role of dimethyl sulfoxide in minimizing early structural damage to the eye following corneal alkali injury was examined. Corneal alkali injury was induced in rabbits and treated with topical applications of 20% dimethyl sulfoxide. At day 3 the rates of corneal opacification (p less than 0.01) and corneal ulceration (p less than 0.05) were significantly lower in the treatment group than in the control group, but this effect was not sustained during the rest of the study period. Further work is required to determine the therapeutic value of topical dimethyl sulfoxide in combination with other agents, such as cycloplegics, corticosteroids, ascorbic acid and citric acid, in corneal alkali injury.