Tetracycline has proven to be effective in the management of the different types of corneal ulcers. It has antimicrobial activity as well as an anti-collagenase effect. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the effect of oxytetracycline 5% on the alkali burn corneal ulcer after its injection subconjunctivally. Ten healthy New Zealand albino rabbits were divided into equal groups (control and treatment). They were examined carefully before induction of the ulcer using 1% NaOH in the right eye. 0.5 ml of oxytetracycline 5% was injected into the subconjunctival space weekly for 5 consecutive weeks. The eye was examined weekly clinically and by fluorescein staining dye just before the injection of oxytetracycline. At the end of the study, the rabbits were euthanised, and the eyes were harvested for histological and electron microscopic examinations. The results revealed there were no significant variations between the control and treatment groups except for the prevention of bacterial colonisation on the ulcerated corneal surface in the oxytetracycline group.

The present study concluded that the subconjunctival injection of oxytetracycline was not efficient for the management of alkali burn corneal ulcers, but it could be used as an adjunctive treatment for control and prevention of bacterial growth on the ulcerated corneal surface.