Corneal Alkali Wound Model in Rabbits

Using an established corneal wound model, corneal alkali wounding was induced in the left eye of each rabbit [35 (link)]. Briefly, after initial clinical examinations and extraocular imaging, rabbits were anesthetized by intramuscular injection of ketamine hydrochloride 50mg/kg (MWI, Boise, ID) and xylazine hydrochloride 10mg/kg (Akorn, Lake Forest IL). Proparacaine hydrochloride 0.5% (Alcon, Fort Worth, TX) was topically applied to the cornea and a wire eyelid speculum was placed. A 7mm-diameter filter paper was soaked in 0.5N sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution and then applied onto the axial cornea for 30 seconds while visualized under a surgical microscope (Leica Wild Microscope MEL53; Leica, Wetzlar, Germany). Following removal of the filter paper, the wounded cornea was immediately and copiously rinsed with sterile balanced salt solution (BSS) to remove residual alkali solution. Fluorescein stain (Flu-Glo, Akorn, Inc., Buffalo Grove, IL, USA) was applied to verify corneal burns.