2413 Factors in the tear fluid influencing corneal epithelial wound healing after excimer laser PRK: The role of EGF

eyf served as a control. Intraperitoneal [Ii ]-thyeidine was injected. Three eyes were studied histologically and autoradiographically at 1 hr, 3 hr. 6 hr. 9 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, 2 d, 3 d, 9 d, 12 d, 15 d, 18 d and 21 d. The epithelial cells were scanned from limbus to limbus. Analysis of variance and linear regression (SPSS package) were used for statistical evaluation. Results: The cells proliferated from the limbus toward the center of the cornea. In control eyes the epithelial cells advanced 17 microns/day at x coordinate. The generation time was 5.4 days. In the injured eyes the cells moved at a speed of 518 microns/day during the first 24 hr and generation time was 1.58 days; however, it subsequently slowed to 4.4 days. &&&U&D: The central epithelial cornea1 wound heals by proliferation and streaming of epithelial limbal cells from the limbus to the center of the cornea.