Matrix regenerating agent (RGTA) plays a prominent role in treating persistent epithelial defects

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and speed of the regenerating agent (RGTA) in the management of persistent epithelial defects after severe infective keratitis, when the treatment with topical fortified antibiotics fails.

Methods

The study was performed on a noncomparative case series of 27 patients (27 eyes) referred with nonhealing severe infective keratitis, i.e. no signs of improvement with fortified antibiotics and ABS eye drops after at least 3 weeks of follow-up. The patients were treated with RGTA eye drops until the complete healing of epithelium. The main outcome measures for each patient were the duration of complete epithelialization of the corneal ulcer and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) before and after the therapy.

Results

Patients did not report pain or discomfort during the RGTA therapy and had no local or systemic side effects related to RGTA application. The RGTA treatment increased BCVA and achieved complete epithelial healing in all patients within an average of 2.36 ± 1.64 weeks (range: 1–5.60). In a patient with necrotizing scleritis, full corneal epithelialization took relatively shorter time (1.5 week), but healing in the conjunctival region was still lacking. Corneal epithelial defect was repeated 4 weeks later. Thus, recurrence was a possibility and another patient with penetrating keratoplasty the revival was after 7 weeks.

Conclusion

RGTA treatment is a safe option for severe eye infection when local or systemic side effects are concerned. It restores the cornea to its original health within a few weeks of therapy when the conventional treatments of keratitis fail. The practice shortens the hospital stay and saves the cost even in refractory corneal ulcers.