Use of Ozone-Based Eye Drops: A Series of Cases in Veterinary and Human Spontaneous Ocular Pathologies

Abstract

Conjunctivitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and corneal ulcers are common eye disorders frequently diagnosed in both humans and animals, and are currently treated by topical administration of eye drops containing anti-inflammatory and antibacterial agents. The current molecules often lack efficacy because infections in hypoxic tissue contain methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; thus, new products for the treatment of ocular pain and inflammation are needed. The use of ozone, a molecule stabilized for topical use as an ozonide, could be providential due to its anti-inflammatory and bactericidal activity in certain anterior segment pathologies, in addition to promoting tissue repair properties. Ozonated oils have the same properties as gaseous ozone and are well tolerated by tissues. In the present study the repair and regeneration effect of ozonated oil in liposomes plus hypromellose (Ozodrop®, FB Vision, Ascoli Piceno, Italy) instilled 3-4 times a day in external ocular spontaneous pathologies both in animals and humans are reported.

Keywords: Antimicrobial agents; Corneal ulcer; Keratoconjunctivitis; Ozone.

Figures

Fig. 1.

Right eye of a 26-year-old horse before starting the treatment. Note blepharitis and blepharospasmus, edematous and hyperemic conjunctiva, and plenty of mucous ocular discharge.

Fig. 2.

Same eye of Figure 1 after 7 days of therapy. Normal eye.

Fig. 3.

Right eye of a 6-month-old cat before starting the treatment. Note marked conjunctival edema, reddening of the conjunctiva, and mucous discharge.

Fig. 4.

Same eye of Figure 3 after 10 days of therapy. Normal eye, with mucous discharge still present.

Fig. 5.

Right eye of a 3-year-old English bulldog before starting the treatment. Note entropion, mucous discharge, keratitis, corneal edema, and deep and superficial neovascularization.

Fig. 6.

Same eye of Figure 5 after 10 days of therapy. Corneal edema has resolved and neovascularization remains only with a single, small caliper vessel arising from the limbus at the level of the medial cantus. Entropion and mucous discharge are still present.

Fig. 7.

Left eye of a 33-year-old man before starting the treatment. Note ciliary flush and large epithelial defect.

Fig. 8.

Same eye of Figure 7 after 3 days of therapy; the appearance is normal epithelium with no inflammatory signs.

Fig. 9.

Right eye of a 79-year-old woman before starting the treatment. Note inferior corneal ulcer from the 5 o'clock to the 8 o'clock positions.

Fig. 10.

Same eye of Figure 9 after 7 days of therapy. Partial healing of the ulcer with a residual corneal pooling.

Fig. 11.

Left eye of a 71-year-old man before starting the treatment. Note stromal keratitis and corneal ulcer.

Fig. 12.

Same eye of Figure 11 after 10 days of therapy. Resolution of corneal ulcer with negative staining.