The Protective Effect of an Eye Wash Solution on the Ocular Surface Damage Induced by Airborne Carbon Black Exposure

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effects of an eye wash solution on the ocular surface damage induced by airborne carbon black (CB) exposure. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to ambient CB for 5 days. During the 5 days, a commercial eye wash solution (Eyebon-W) was used for irrigation twice daily on CB-exposed rat eyes; normal saline was used as the vehicle control. Lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-9, histamine, and lactoferrin levels were measured in tears. The expression of inflammatory cytokines in the anterior segment of the eyeball was measured by Western blot analysis. Results: The ocular surface staining scores, tear LDH activity, tear MMP-9, histamine, and lactoferrin concentrations, and the expression of interleukin-4 and interferon-gamma in the eye were significantly increased in the CB group versus the normal control group. When compared with CB group, the Eyebon-W eye wash treatment significantly reversed these elevations induced by CB, including ocular staining scores, tear LDH activity, histamine and MMP-9 concentrations in the tear fluid, and the expression of interleukin-4 in the eye. On the other hand, saline irrigation only reduced the concentrations of histamine and MMP-9 in tear fluid and the expression of interferon-gamma in the eye. Conclusions: Both Eyebon-W eye wash treatment and saline irrigation reversed CB-induced ocular surface injury, but the efficacy of Eyebon-W was more significant than that of the saline solution when compared with CB group. The use of an eye wash solution seems to play a protective role for the ocular surface when exposed to airborne particulate matter.