Abstract
This study investigates the possible toxic effects of the preoperative antiseptic substances povidone iodine (PVI) and polyhexanide (PHMB; Serasept® 2) on wound healing in ophthalmology. To assess this impact, human telomerase-immortalized corneal epithelial (hTCEpi) cells and human telomerase-immortalized conjunctival epithelial (hCjE) cells were exposed to 1% and 5% PVI or 0.04% PHMB for different periods to evaluate the cytotoxicity of these two antiseptics. Furthermore, the toxicity of these antiseptics was investigated in a human tissue-specific corneal epithelial construct and porcine eye culture model. The results reveal the high cytotoxicity of PVI and PHMB in the hTCEpi and hCjE in monolayer cell culture models, independent of the incubation time and concentration of these substances. However, after hTCEpi cell differentiation into a tissue-specific corneal epithelial construct, contact with these antiseptics for the relevant preoperative time did not alter cPARP1 or Ki67 expression. Furthermore, the wound-healing process in the porcine cornea was not significantly influenced after incubation with these antiseptics. In summary, corneal and conjunctival epithelial cell lines are very sensitive to PVI and PHMB, whereas no significant alterations were found in intact tissue-specific corneal epithelial constructs or porcine corneas. Therefore, we could not identify PVI and PHMB as reasons for postoperative eye irritation.