AIM: To investigate the oxidative damage effect of povidone iodine on corneal epithelial cells.

METHODS:To study the oxidative damage effect of different concentrations of povidone iodine, the cultured epithelial cells were randomly divided into control group, low concentration group, medium concentration group and high concentration group. To study the oxidative damage effect of disinfection time of povidone iodine, the cultured corneal epithelial cells were randomly divided into control group, short time group, medium time group and long time group. Malondialdehyde(MDA)and superoxide dismutase(SOD)were detected by ELISA, cell viability was detected by CCK-8 method and inverted microscope, and apoptotic rate was detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTS: The higher concentration of povidone iodine was associated with the higher MDA content, the lower SOD content, the lower cell activities and the higher apoptotic rate of the corneal epithelial cells, which was in a dose-independent manner. The differences among four groups were statistically significant(all P<0.01). The longer disinfection time of povidone iodine was related with the higher MDA content, the lower SOD content, the lower cell activities and the higher apoptotic rate of corneal epithelial cells, which was in a time-independent manner. The differences among four groups were statistically significant(all P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: The oxidative damage of povidone iodine on corneal epithelial cells were in a dose independent and time dependent manner.