AIM: To investigate the repair efficacy of recombinant human epidermal growth factor on corneal epithelium after corneal foreign body eliminating operation.

METHODS: There were 102 patients with corneal foreign body(188 affected eyes)chosen for the study. All patients were divided into treatment group and control group according to the random number table. Both groups received corneal foreign body elimination by slit lamp. Postoperatively, the treatment group was given eye drops containing epidermal growth factor(JinYinShu)combined with tobramycin while the control group was only administrated with tobramycin. Treatment effects were compared 3d after treatment.

RESULTS: Three days after treatment, the cure rate in the treatment group(93.7%), was significantly higher than that in the control group(76.6%)(P<0.05). In the treatment group, fluorescein staining was negative in 90.4% of the cases, significantly higher than that in the control group(46.8%)(P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The recombinant human epidermal growth factor is capable of integrating with corneal epithelial cells and endothelial cell receptor, shortening healing time of corneal epithelial wound, thus making it an effective treatment of traumatic corneal epithelial defect.