Effects of hydrogen peroxide solution on the biomechanics of porcine cornea

Objectives: To determine the biomechanical changes of porcine corneas after the application of hydrogen peroxide(H2O2) solution. Methods: Fifty-five porcine eyeballs with similar sizes were divided into 11 groups based on the H2O2 application. The eyeballs were treated with the following concentrations of H2O2 solution: 1 mol/L, 500 mmol/L, 250 mmol/L, 125 mmol/L, 62.5 mmol/L, 31.25 mmol/L, 15.63 mmol/L, 7.81 mmol/L, 3.91 mmol/L, 0.9% saline, or blank. The eyeballs were immersed into the solution for 30 min. The biomechanics of each cornea in the different groups was determined soon after the indentation and tensile tests. We calculated the average Young’s modulus of the different groups to determine the effects of H2O2 solution on porcine corneas. The comparison between the groups was conducted using ANOVA analysis. Moreover, the safety of each concentration of H2O2 solution on the corneal tissues was determined by histopathological examination. Results: The Young’s modulus was significantly different among all the groups ( p = 0.003). The modulus was the highest in the group treated with 3.91 mmol/L H2O2 and it was significantly different from that in the group treated with 0.9% saline or the blank group, for both the indentation and tensile tests. Histopathological examination showed that H2O2 at a concentration of ⩾62.5 mmol/L damaged the epithelium, stroma, or both, while H2O2 at a concentration ⩽31.25 mmol/L did not change the morphology of the epithelium or stroma. Conclusions: Treatment with 3.91 mmol/L H2O2 solution can safely and effectively increase the biomechanical strength of the cornea.