AIM: To observe the regrowth progress of corneal epithelium and the change of center thickness on rabbit corneal lesions after exposure to mustard gas.

METHODS: Twenty rabbits(40 eyes)were divided into two groups randomly, the experimental group included 10 cases(10 right eyes), the control group included 10 cases(10 right eyes), and the left eyes were normal group. The corneas of the rabbits were contacted the liquid mustard gas 400μL/L(0.2mL)and 200μL/L(0.2mL)for 4min in the experimental group and the control group respectively. Then the corneal white light and photofluorography at were conducted at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6d; 1, 2, 3wk; 1, 3mo and the corneal center thickness was measured respectively.

RESULTS: The area of corneal epithelium lesions in experimental group degraded from Ⅳ to 0 after 1wk. The lesions were appeared as flake sample repeatedly in 2wk, 3wk, 1mo, delayed to healing. And that area in control group degraded from Ⅲ to 0 after 1wk. The lesions were appeared as pinpoint sample in 2wk, 3wk, 1mo. The central corneal thickness of experimental group was obviously higher than that of the normal and control group in 1-6d. There was statistically significant difference between the two groups(P<0.05). In 1wk-1mo the difference of three group was not statistically significant(P>0.05). In 3mo the experimental and control group were higher than the normal group, but the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).

CONCLUSION: Mustard gas of different concentrations can lead different level corneal lesion and corneal thickness change. The corneal epithelium remodeling change appears within 1wk and completely recover in 1mo after the direct corneal contact. Corneal thickness gets right in 3mo.