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. 2025 Nov 10.
doi: 10.1097/ICL.0000000000001235. Online ahead of print.

Effect of Polydeoxyribonucleotide-Releasing Contact Lenses on Corneal Wound Healing

Yunkyoung Ryu  1 , Hye-Jin Son, Jin Sun Hwang, Sun-Hee Oh, Jae Hwi Lee, Gui Bae Kim, Young Joo Shin
Affiliations

Effect of Polydeoxyribonucleotide-Releasing Contact Lenses on Corneal Wound Healing

Yunkyoung Ryu et al. Eye Contact Lens. .

Abstract

Objectives: Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) activates adenosine A2A receptors, subsequently stimulating the release of growth factors such as fibroblast growth factor and epidermal growth factor, which promote anti-inflammatory effects, cell proliferation, and tissue regeneration. This study investigated the effects of 0.1% PDRN-releasing contact lenses (PDRN-CL) on corneal wound healing in an animal model.

Methods: After corneal epithelial injury induced by 20% alcohol and a #15 blade in six New Zealand White rabbits, control lenses were worn in one eye and PDRN-releasing lenses (Neovision, Korea) in the other eye were applied daily for 6 hr every day over 4 days. Fluorescein staining was used to assess wound area, expressed as a percentage of the initial defect. On fourth day, corneas were harvested for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Ki67, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) staining. Differences in epithelial defect area were analyzed using independent t tests, with P<0.05 considered statistically significant.

Results: Corneal epithelial defects decreased over time, and from the first day to the morning of the third day, wound healing was significantly accelerated in the PDRN-CL group compared with the control contact lens group (P<0.05). By the afternoon of the third day, corneal epithelial defects were not observed in either group. Tissue examination showed that the epithelial cell layer was thicker in the PDRN-CL group (P<0.05), and Ki67 expression was significantly higher in the PDRN-CL group (P<0.05). The PDRN-CL group exhibits significantly lower MMP-9 levels and MMP-2 expressions (P=0.023 and P<0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions: Polydeoxyribonucleotide-CL was effective in promoting corneal wound healing and epithelial cell proliferation and in reducing inflammation. Therefore, it may be useful for treating contact lens complications or corneal injuries.

Keywords: Contact lenses; Corneal wound healing; Polydeoxyribonucleotide.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose.

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