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The tolerability and efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the topical treatment of herpetic corneal ulcers in addition to topical acyclovir have been evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study in two groups of patients. The time required for complete reepithelialization of the cornea was recorded, and the data obtained were analyzed statistically. In the EGF group, the reepithelialization was significantly faster than in the control group. Tolerability of EGF was always excellent. These results indicate that EGF is safe and effective in reducing the healing time of herpetic corneal ulcers.

The tolerability and efficacy of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the topical treatment of traumatic corneal ulcers have been evaluated in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study in two groups of patients. The time required for complete reepithelialization of the cornea was recorded, and the data obtained were analyzed statistically. In the EGF group the reepithelialization was significantly faster than in the control group. Tolerability of EGF was always excellent. These results indicate that EGF is safe and effective in reducing the healing time in the management of superficial corneal lesions.

Epidermal growth factor is a protein which stimulates epithelial cell growth. We conducted a randomized double blind study between patients treated with PHZ102 (Inpharzam SA, Cadempino, Switzerland) containing EGF, and placebo eyedrops as topical treatment following epikeratoplasty, to evaluate the effect of EGF on corneal reepithelialization. The patients of the EGF group recovered earlier (1 to 4 days) than the patients in the placebo group (3 to 15 days). Therefore, the results obtained confirmed that EGF may reduce the time normally required for complete reepithelialization of the cornea.

A case of toxic epidermal necrolysis had been observed in a 4-year-old child. This patient has been reexamined by us 21 years later. At that time a biopsy of conjunctival material and a histopathologic and ultrastructural study were done. The long-term ocular complications of the disease caused severe visual impairment with a remarkable sicca syndrome due to extensive scarring and keratinization, as confirmed also by light- and electron-microscopic features. These findings, concerning a particularly long follow-up, suggest that the ocular sequelae of this disease require continuous ophthalmological supervision many years after the acute stage of the disease.

The ultrastructure of iris vessels in exfoliation syndrome has been investigated. Deposits of exfoliation material have been found in the vessel walls. There is evidence of different stages of pathological alterations of some vessels, culminating in the loss of endothelial cells and obliteration of the lumen associated with exfoliative deposits. These findings correlate with fluorescein angiographic alterations of the iris and stress the importance of vascular changes in this syndrome.

A corneal button excised from a 2-month-old infant with congenital posterior polymorphous dystrophy of the cornea, a rare disease affecting Descemet's membrane and endothelium, was examined by electron microscopy. We observed irregularly arranged, sometimes multilayered cells with marked epithelial features, lining the posterior surface of the cornea in place of the endothelium, and Descemet's membrane with focal alterations sometimes involving all of its layers. We interpreted these abnormal cells as epithelial-like cells. As these findings were in a very young patient, which is unusual, we concluded that the onset of the disease may take place in the early period of intrauterine life, corresponding to the beginning of Descemet's membrane production.

Four members of a family were affected with lattice dystrophy of the cornea. One of them showed recurrence of the disease in the corneal graft in one eye 9 years after a keratoplasty, and a very advanced stage of the disease in the fellow eye. Therefore a keratoplasty was done in this eye. The corneal button was thoroughly investigated by means of histochemistry, electron microscopy and X-ray electron microanalysis. Two young members of the family showing early signs of the disease were followed up for 2 years. It has been possible to observe the evolution of their lesions. Histopathological examinations revealed the presence of two different types of abnormal deposits under the epithelium and in the stroma. X-ray electron microanalysis of the stromal deposits revealed a substantial increase in sulphur content.