Twenty-eight rabbits were submitted to superficial keratectomy. The treated group consisted of 14 animals received canine amniotic membrane as a bandage, sutured in a way that its epithelial surface was in contact with the corneal surface. The control group did not receive any treatment. The animals were submitted to clinical evaluations 24 hours after surgery, at each two-day interval during one week and at each four-day interval during 180 days. The amniotic membranes were evaluated as a bandage comparing the time needed for corneal epithelization in the treated and non-treated groups and determining the period necessary for the cornea to become completely transparent. The corneal opacity was present during the entire time of observation. The treated animals presented more opaque cornea in the early period of regeneration, with neovascularization and more pain and discomfort than the animals from control group, showing a delayed epithelization.
rabbit; cornea; amniotic membrane; ulcerative keratitis
